Thank you all for the encouragement. I am quite excited to get started. I have been surfing for all things dulcimer and have found many useful sites and some books I plan to order.

Yes Kat, I have been reading about Jean Ritchie, as well as different styles of playing, the history of dulcimers, etc. All fascinating.

I hope to try my hand at every style, after I get the rudimentary bits down and getting comfortable with the simple accompniament play. I want to learn to use the instrument to its fullest capacity. To play appealing with no vocal. I plan to find and even make some noters. I read that traditionally cane (American type of bamboo) and turkey feathers were used.

I understand I will eventually need a capo, but cannot find a supplier in the UK. Will I need to take the instrument (when I get one) to a luthier to have one made specifically for it?