Okay Murray...........When a dulcimer is laying on your lap, the classic way to play it is to play the melody on the string closest to you. The first dulcimers only had three strings and the frets only ran under that first string. Most today have the first string doubled and frets all the way across....but think about the 3-string, half fret "classic."

The melody string (closest to you as it lays on your lap) plays the melody and the other two are simply strummed as drones like the drone pipes on a bagpipes. A "noter" is simply a small, round, piece of wood....like a short piece of dowel rod or a stub of a pencil and is used to press down the melody string instead of using your finger. Remember that the other two strings are not touched by the noter...they just drone along to the pitches they are tuned to.

NOW....do you get it?

Spaw