Re minors on the dulcimer. If the melody string(s) is tuned down one full note from bass string, a stunning minor mode results (can't remember what the name of it is...Aolian?). Harder to chord in but very effective. Minors are very available ... you just have to retune for them.

Kytrad...thanks for the reminder re Blue Lion's Jean Richie model...it is a wonderful dulcimer.