I have borrowed or owned a few books on playing dulcimer. Most overwhelm with too many tunings and too many fussy tab charts. I don't think I've kept even one of them.

Here's how I play:

1. I put a thumbpick on my right thumb. Different picks produce slightly different sounds. You can play without the thumbpick, but the sound is pretty soft.

2. Have you ever played piano or guitar [or similar]? If so, you will have mastered strumming and fingerpicking. I use the right hand to do one or the other, usually fingerpicking.

3. Tune the dulcimer in D-A-A. The fat string farthest away is the D below middle C, same as on a guitar. The other strings are both tuned to the A above that.

The higher-pitched string closest to you is called the melody string. Some people put two melody strings on, very close together, but I dont.

To tune the dulcimer to itself, press down near the fourth fret of the D string, producing an A. Match the other strings to it.

4. I don't know if you have a 6 1/2 fret [produces G#) so I'll assume you don't here.

5. Play a scale in D. D is the third fret, abt 18 cm from the left end. Use a finger on the left hand to push down on the string near the 3rd fret. Use the fingers of the right hand to pick out a pattern.

[Some people play all their melody notes with the index finger of the left hand, sliding it from place to place. I don't think that's a good idea - too much pressure and no rest for that index finger. I flicker my left hand, playing the melody with various fingers, the way a piano player would.]

Here's the beauty of D A A. For most notes, you will get a good chord by using your left index finger to play the melody string and another finger, either middle or index. (whichever is comfortable) to fret the D string one fret behind the melody string.

Try that, moving up the scale. It is very simple, and very harmonious.

Two exceptions - For the note B, you have to put the second finger on the A [middle]string where the note G is. This produces a G chord.

You will get a prettier accomapaniment to the note A if you put your second finger on the A string at the 5th fret [F#]. This gives you a nice D chord.

Now sound out a song that you know by heart. If it has

eighth note - just hit the melody string with the thumb pick

quarter note - melody string followed by one pluck of the middle string (use a fingertip)

longer note - hit the melody note with the thumb pick, then pluck out a soft, running chord accomapaniment with your other fingertips, using one sound per eighth note A half note, for instance, gets four notes. Try melody-A string-Dstring-A string, for example. Or you could just brush your fingers over all the strings and let the sound die away. It's your choice.

A dotted quarter would get three plucks or a shorter brush.

If you want a loud sound, make the same moves with the left hand but use a triangular pick in the right hand to brush [whack] all the strings. Actually, I forego the pick and just use the backs of my nails. It's easier on the hands.

Once in a while, I just forget all chords and wham it. Some people, that's all they do. I pity them. But for release of aggression, try On the Bridge of Avignon or As We March-ed Down to Fenario without any chords. It can be done.
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Minor songs: to play minor songs, I tune the dulcimer G-A-D. Then I used simple music theory to find where the chords are. ["Here's a D, here's an F, here's an A. This must be D minor!"] The chords don't fit a simple pattern, as in D-A-A, but they are playable. I bought the package of small stickers in different colors [they kind of stickers they sell for kids] and used them to mark the chords. For example, two blue stars mark the frets for Dm. I put the stickers on the left end of the spaces so they aren't being rubbed all the time.
They've been there at least two years with no damage to the dulcimer.


Print this out, try playing and see if you like it. If it works for you, I'll tell you more.