Hello!
Several years ago I had a desire to learn an instrument, any traditional instrument. I have always had the gift of being able to memorize long stories, poems, and ballads, real long ones,15 min, half hour no problem. I have always believed that Poems were invented to put stories to a rhythm to make them easier to remember tell to future generations, music was invented to put put the poems to a rhythm to make them even easier to remember for future generations, Folk Music (IMHO) is the basis of all music in its purest form. Long story past, I tried to learn to pick the Banjo, bought one just good enough to take lessons on, but I grew frustrated as the instructor I hired had no interested in understanding my learning style (or lack of it). After a couple of years of trying to teach myself the banjo collected more dust than fingerprints.

I happened to glance at the TV the other day and I saw John-Boy Walton picking a curios looking instrument, with a pure clean sound. I grabbed the remote and turned it up just in time to hear him say it was a Mountain Dulcimer the so-and-so down the road built. Grabbing my laptop I was thrilled to find so much information on this instrument. With the basic string arrangement, and looking down on the fretboard I am confident I can bring my love of traditional folk music to a usable level.

I ordered a starter instrument from the folks in Connecticut a few days ago. If I manage to get any level of competency at all I will have a used banjo to trade for a Mountain Dulcimer!

I used to hang out here at the Mudcat Cafe looking for Banjo Tabs, chords and lyrics way back when, I am very excited to find this community with so much Dulcimer support. I have spent a few hours over the last few days reading posts here and I am clearly in the midst of a good group of folks who's love for music is only exceeded by their wiliness to share.

Thank you all for the inspiration and support you had no idea you were offering.