Appalachian dulcimer

The Dulcimer ([' dʌlsɪmə ], derived from Dulce Melos ), Appalachian dulcimer and mountain dulcimer accurate is a played in the United States Bordunzither, which is related to the European Scheitholt. The name Appalachian dulcimer is derived from the region of origin, the Appalachian Mountains and serves to distinguish it from hammered dulcimer, as is commonly called in English a dulcimer.

Design

The Dulcimer is one of the box zithers and has a flat body, on which the fingerboard is mounted directly, as well as three to five strings. Most instruments are fretted only diatonic; some have extra frets for a few semitones, so that you can play more than one key. Meanwhile, there are also instruments with chromatic Frets. The atmosphere is therefore adapted to the melody; common tunings are d - a - a ( - a), d - a - d '( - d') or d - a - c '( - c').

Origin and Distribution

The Dulcimer came mainly with the Anglo-Saxon immigrants from Europe to America, where he became particularly widespread in the Appalachian Mountains. Related European Bordunzithern are the North German Hummel and the Norwegian langeleik. In the 1960s, the dulcimer was rediscovered by the folk movement and learned to mid-1970s, an increase in popularity. It is played mainly in the old-time, folk and country music, and partly in the medieval music. In particular, the Canadian musician Joni Mitchell has been accompanied with several of their songs on a dulcimer, so at A Case of You of her album Blue by 1971. Brian Jones, the Rolling Stones guitarist, played in 1966 at I Am Waiting and Lady Jane Album Aftermath Dulcimer.

Game art

Playing the instrument is on your lap or in front of the player. The strings are gripped from above. You can see the strings on a guitar pluck individually ( fingerpicking ), or strike simultaneously with a pick all strings. Although you can access and simple chords is often played only on the highest string the melody and the bass strings are being used as an drone. Also widespread is a modification of the latter technique, in which the tune on the dulcimer ( similar to a slide guitar ) is played with a bamboo stick. In contrast to the Slide Guitar bamboo chopsticks ( Noter ), however, placed and pressed down between the frets. A slide guitar in the classical sense is also possible. For this one, however, does not use bamboo chopsticks, but bottlenecks of glass or brass. This technique is particularly interesting because it makes many otherwise accessible on the Dulcimer intangible nuances.

Similar names

Dulcimer was also the project name from Apple's iPod before it was presented to the public on 23 October 2001.

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