6 Amazing Mountain Dulcimers – Create Artistic Sounds

A dulcimer is a fretted stringed instrument that produces sweet and melodious sounds. Mountain or lap dulcimers are usually placed on the lap when being played, though some people play it while standing. Although it is very popular in the US, its history can be traced to the Scott-Irish settler of Appalachia. The instrument may be related to the German lap zither. Over the years, a lot of music legends like Don Pedi, Robert Force, and Jean Ritchie have used the instrument to produce beautiful and inspiring music that won’t be forgotten in years and years to come.

Finding the best mountain dulcimer on the market that will suit your need is by no means an easy task. To help make your shopping easier, we considered features like weight, scale length, size and many more that affect the performance and the sound quality of the instrument.

To ensure that this guide is comprehensive, we spent countless hours testing different dulcimers, evaluating their features and assessing their performance. After our deep and extensive research, we came up with a list of the six best dulcimers on the market.  Our guide starts with a comparison table that shows the rating of each model. Next is a detailed review of each model. We conclude with a buying guide that contains everything you need to narrow down a dulcimer that will suit you.

Top 6 Mountain Dulcimer Review 2024

Why should you choose a mountain dulcimer?

Has it been your dream to play a stringed instrument? If yes, then you should opt for a mountain dulcimer. You probably may be wondering why you should choose a mountain dulcimer over a banjo or guitar, fiddle, or mandolin. Well, the reason for this is that it is super easy to play, as it only has three strings. Since it is easy to play; you won’t have to spend countless hours learning the basics or sign up for expensive classes.

Another interesting thing about the mountain dulcimer is that you don’t need to be able to read music to play it. Although sheet music and special books are available that indicated the right fret to use when playing a particular song.

Just like other string instruments, a mountain dulcimer can be played slowly and quietly or at toe-tapping speed to produce a pleasant and inspiring sound.

Take a leap of faith and purchase either a high-end mountain dulcimer like the Roosebeck Emma or the Applecreek ACD200K or a budget-friendly model like the Applecreek ACD100, you won’t regret it.

Appalachian dulcimer playing tips

The mountain dulcimer is just like any other string instrument. To learn to play it, you have to be dedicated, focused and practice endlessly. Below are some tips that can help make your journey to becoming a proficient player smoother.

 How to hold a dulcimer

Unlike a guitar you can play while standing and sitting, a mountain dulcimer is usually played while seating. To ensure that the instrument remains stable on your lap, you have to wear the right shoes and seat on a stable and comfortable chair. Another thing you can do to increase stability is to angle or position the right side of the instrument towards your hip.

Placement

If you are right-handed, the headstock of your mountain dulcimer should be on your left.

  Choosing a Pick

Presently, there are different types of picks on the market. But not all of them will be good for you. To pick a good one, you should try out different picks until you find the one that you are comfortable with.

  Strings

While some dulcimers come with three or four strings others come with five or even six strings. If you are an amateur player, it is wise to stick to dulcimer with three or four strings as they are very easy to play.

  Tuning

This is one of the most important things you should learn if you plan on playing in a band. The easiest way to tune a mountain dulcimer is with an electronic tuner. If you don’t have one, then you can use electronic instruments like a keyboard to tune it.

You can also watch the following video to see the proper dulcimer playing:

Price tag

See, you don’t need to buy an expensive mountain dulcimer to play better especially if you are just starting out. Opting for affordable models like the Applecreek ACD100 is a smart move as they are rugged and can withstand extensive use. Even more, they are very easy to play and adjust.

On the other hand, if you are a professional player looking to replacing your present mountain dulcimer, then you should choose top-notch models like the Applecreek ACD200K or the Roosebeck Emma. As a professional player, you should never buy a low-quality instrument just to save a few bucks, as it may fall apart or develop a fault that may be expensive to repair.

Features to consider while buying the best mountain dulcimer

While all the units on our list of best mountain dulcimers impressed us, we know that you have unique needs and preferences. To help you make an informed decision and ultimately narrow down a dulcimer that will suit you, we considered some key feature like shape, construction, and wood among others, that you should give careful attention to before making a purchase.

Construction

Whether you are going for a budget-friendly dulcimer like the Applecreek ACD100 or fairly expensive models like the Roosebeck Emma or the Applecreek ACD200K, it is important that you take a close look at its construction. If you are new to dulcimers, you may not really know what to look out for or where to check.  Well, if that is the case, then you should buy from reputable brands that have a lot of positive reviews.

On the other hand, if you have been playing for a while or you know a thing or two about a dulcimer, then you should check its finishing, quality of the wood it is made of, and if it is well glued.

Shape

Mountain dulcimer comes in different shapes and sizes. But most models on the market either have a teardrop shape (like the Applecreek ACD100) or an hourglass shape (like the Roosebeck Emma).

As you probably guessed, making an hourglass shape is more difficult than a teardrop shape. That’s why teardrop instruments are less expensive and hourglass shapes are at the top of the price range. But before visiting your favorite online store to get the first hourglass shaped dulcimer you can find, you need to keep in mind that a high-quality teardrop shape dulcimer will blow a poorly made or low-quality hourglass shaped dulcimer out of the water every time.

Size

Bigger is better especially when it comes to choosing a mountain dulcimer. Large dulcimers like the Roosebeck Emma or the Roosebeck Grace have bigger soundbox that delivers richer and fuller sounds.

If you are an amateur player, you can buy a small dulcimer, but as you get better and you become more proficient, you should buy a bigger one.

Wood

Another important feature you should give close attention when buying a dulcimer is the wood it is made from, as it determines the sound quality of the instrument.

The best mountain dulcimers on the market are made from solid wood. The type of wood a dulcimer is made from is another thing you should check before making a purchase.

Most dulcimers on the market are made from hardwood like walnut, poplar, cherry, and sassafras or soft wood like cedar or spruce.

We recommend trying dulcimers with different wood before you narrow down the one that suits your needs.

Stay away from dulcimers made from plywood like the plague, as they are less durable and may fall apart after a while.

Strings

Unlike the guitar and the banjo, mountain dulcimer can have a different number of strings. While some models like the Roosebeck Emma has 3 to 4 strings other like the Roosebeck European has from 5 to 8 strings. The way and manner you plan to play the instrument will determine the number of strings you will need.  Dulcimer strings can come in different length.

If you are just starting out, you have to keep in mind that dulcimers with many strings are difficult to play.

Head structure and frets

The original handmade mountain dulcimers had a scrolled head that is somewhat similar to a violin with hand-carved pegs. When the demand for the instrument increased, some builders or craftsmen simplified the scroll to a simple slotted head like a classical guitar with one slot and eventually to a plank-style head.

In recent years, builders started to replace staple with frets that are stretched all the way across the fingerboard, enabling chord playing, which was impossible when staple was being used.

Tuners

Regardless of the type of mountain dulcimer you are opting for, you may have to tune it to get the sound you want.

A well-tuned dulcimer will be easier to play and produce better sounds. If your strings are not properly tightened into the instrument, you will always have to tune it before you can play. So, to increase your playing time and reduce your tuning time, you have to invest in an electric tuner. Also, you have to ensure that the strings in your dulcimer are properly tightened.

Bridge

Feel free to add something you think is important and relevant, and please mention some of the products reviewed as examples in the buying guide, where appropriate.

In older dulcimer models, the bridge occupies a place or position close to the tail of the instrument. However, in newer models, the bridge is usually placed away from the tail. This is done to enable the instruments make a guitar-like sound.

FAQ

Our Verdict

No doubts, all the mountain dulcimers reviewed in this guide are of high quality. But, here are our top three picks.

The Roosebeck Emma is our top choice. Its sound quality, excellent finishing, and performance make it one of the best mountain dulcimers on the market. So, if you are looking for the best of the best, then you should opt for the Roosebeck Emma.

Our second best mountain dulcimer, the Applecreek ACD200K is a top-notch dulcimer that features a 27.5” scale length, 18 frets, ebony nuts and saddle among others. The Applecreek ACD200K is a must have for professional players looking to taking their game to a new level.

Our third best pick, the Applecreek ACD100 is a budget-friendly mountain dulcimer that is made from premium quality materials. Its sophisticated design and solid body set it apart from other models similar to it.

We hope that our guide helps you in your search for the best mountain dulcimer on the market that will suit your unique needs.