I highly recommend Jean Ritchie's book at Jean Ritchie dot com and also, "Larkin's Dulcimer Book" by Larkin Bryant. I have played piano and violin/fiddle all of my life and found those books very helpful. I don't use my thumb, but slide my index finger along for the melody, OR, use one of several beautiful wooden "noters" made for me by other Mudcatters; don't do chords (yet! maybe never.) I use a pick, BUT, just for fun, I often use a feather, as Jean point out in her book was the usual, though it was goose and I've not got those.:-)

Just have fun with it and know, as others have said, there are many, many ways to make this instrument sing for/with you.

All the best,

kat