How to Play a Hammered Dulcimer

Presented by Tim Van Egmond

Learn how to play jigs and other songs on the hammered dulcimer, and learn dulcimer techniques such as flam and pedal muting, in these free instructional video clip lessons on how to play a dulcimer.

Series Summary

The hammered dulcimer is in the stringed instrument musical family that was invented in Iran roughly 2000 years ago. It is comprised of a trapezoidal shaped piece of wood that has strings stretched over it. Depending on the number of strings, a hammered dulcimer can span multiple octaves. The hammered dulcimer resembles the harp because it requires a tuning wrench for tuning; it resembles a piano in the fact that the strings are usually in pairs to maximize the sound. To play this instrument, the musician holds a mallet in each hand and strikes the strings for a note.

In this series of expert videos, you will learn more about the history and function of the hammered dulcimer. Watch as our expert plays this beautiful instrument and demonstrates the function of the damper pedal. Get tips on playing the hammered dulcimer including tips on accompanying lead instruments or voice with the hammered dulcimer. Learn how to play different tunes, songs, and jigs on this instrument. Watch these videos and learn how to tune the hammered dulcimer and play muted notes. This instrument is very popular in different styles of music including Celtic and Irish music. Learn how to play the hammered dulcimer in these instructional videos.

This series is an Equilibrio Films production.

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History of the Dulcimer

Learn about the history of the dulcimer instrument in this free video lesson on how to play a dulcimer.

Hammered Dulcimer Techniques

Learn instrument playing techniques for the hammered dulcimer as demonstrated in the Irish Tune Fanny Poer - free video.

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