the Persian dulcimer is called a "santur" or "santoor". it is basically a hammered dulcimer but tuned differently. it possibly has a different number of strings, also. I knew a great Persian santur player in Texas.

Persian music uses modes, not scales. It also relies heavily on quarter tones, as does most middle eastern music. I don't know how they would notate those quarter tones. The santur player i knew mostly played by ear. he was also a classically trained pianist in the Western tradition.

wyllow :)