How to Learn to Play the Hammered Dulcimer

Standard 15/14 hammered dulcimer

A hammered dulcimer is an ancient, percussive stringed instrument. Its strings are strung horizontally across a wooden trapezoid box, most commonly across two vertical bridges. It sounds much like a sitar, but looks more like a pedal steel guitar. It is played with two wooden hammers that gently bounce off the string upon contact. The playing technique can be challenging, but it is relatively easy to find melodies and play chords, according to cpmusic.com.

Things You'll Need

• Hammered dulcimer
• 2 hammers
• Diagram of notes

Instructions

Hammered Dulcimer Basics

1. 

   Grab each wooden hammered dulcimer hammer with either your thumb and index fingers or your index and middle fingers, depending on which feels more natural.

2. Grip the hammered dulcimer hammers firmly, but flexibly. Keep them loose enough to rotate in your grip. This will allow smoother motion when you begin to play.

3. Hit one string at a time using both hammers, alternating between two strings, then three, then four, and so on.

4. Make a mental note of the format of the notes and strings while you're playing for the first time. You won't know what the notes are called right away, but keep in mind which strings make which sounds. You should pick up on the pattern of the instrument after a little while.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a chord and note chart around to refer to while you're learning how to play the hammered dulcimer. The more familiar you are with the location of the notes, the faster you will learn, according to cpmusic.com. Once you get the hang of hitting one string at a time, the best way to play notes more rapidly is to alternate notes between hands. According to the Smithsonian Institute, it takes some thought to decide which hand should be used for which note----to avoid tangled arms and hard-to-reach notes.

References

• Chris Peterson Music
• Smithsonian Institute

Resources

• Sheet Music Plus
• Chris Peterson Music
• Dulcimer.com