I think those labels are modern sales gimmicks- I know that Hughes was the first to market a "church dulcimer;" I believe it has six strings and therefore it does have more sound, perhaps deeper bass strings can be used, but, as far as I can tell, the same tunings apply- just that some of the strings are doubled.

This sales idea would also apply to "parlor dulcimers-" they're usually accompanied by a booklet of "parlor" songs, but, aside from the makers' individual styles, the parlor dulcimer is still just a dulcimer.

I call mine a Kentucky dulcimer because I come from Kentucky and that's where my instrument was made. A Kentucky-style dulcimer would be one whose shape is based upon the early ones made in Kentucky by Ed Thomas, Knott County, or Will Singleton, Perry County, and those who learned from them. There were of course other dulcimer makers in Kentucky- these were active in the early-to-mid-1800s, and were the ones our family knew.

If you're just learning, I'd say hold off on the bowing until you know how to play a bit the regular way. As the fretboard is flat, it's extremely hard (on listeners, too) to get any satisfactory sounds with a bow. Leah Smith, from Harlan County (her picture's in my, THE DULCIMER BOOK)was the only one we ever knew who bowed the instrument, and why she did it is not known now.

Lots of luck, and joy- Jean