Someone gave me the gol dangest six string dulcimer I've ever seen. The two melody strings are positioned close, as should be. Then there is a about a 7/8 inch gap and then come the two harmony and bass strings equidistant from each other making it pert near impossible to either A. finger pick or B. fret. I guess this is just another of life's mysteries. One folk artist here said that it's four equidistant strings are all drones, not to be fretted. I'll give it a try that way. If it doesn't work, it's a good candidate for Keith Youngs re-doing skills.