Appalachian dulcimer
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Probably a
descendant from the German Scheitholt, the Appalachian or mountain dulcimer is
a fretted three or four string instrument with a body extending the length of
the fingerboard. Unlike the hammered dulcimer, where sound is produced by
hitting the tuned strings with hammers, the Appalachain or mountain dulcimer is
played by hitting the strings with the right hand fingers while fretting is done with
the left hand.
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prime example
the story
After
breaking up with Graham Nash, Joni Mitchell wrote most of the songs for her
classic fourth album, Blue, while on a vacation in Europe. In California, she
sings about how she likes the countries she travelling in but most of all she
would like to be at home in California. In the end, it is revealed why she
wants to go home: she wants to know if her love will take her as she is. On the
studio take of California, Mitchell plays Appalachian dulcimer and sings while
accompanied by ‘Sneaky’ Pete Kleinow on pedal steel guitar, James Taylor on
acoustic guitar and Russ Kunkel on drums. Mitchell plays Appalachian dulcimer
on three more tracks from Blue: All I Want, Carey and A Case Of You.
other examples
1966’s
Aftermath was probably the most experimental of the Rolling Stones’ early
albums. Brian Jones was given carte blanche to add all sorts of exotic
instruments on a number of tracks, including sitar on Paint It, Black and
Mother’s Little Helper, marimbas on Under My Thumb and Out Of Time - and the
Appalachian dulcimer on Lady Jane and I Am Waiting. Influenced by Richard Fariña’s
recordings, Jones purchased a dulcimer while touring the US with the Stones. He
then commissioned Vox to build him an electric version, which became the Vox
Bijou. In total only six were made, three of which were at one time or another
in the possession of Jones.
Like Brian Jones, Jeff Buckley was a gifted musician who died all too young - and who would try any instrument he could lay hands on. On 1994’s Grace, the only full album he recorded while living, he is credited with singing and playing the guitar, the organ and the harmonium, plus tabla and Appalachian dulcimer on the final track, Dream Brother. This dark song was meant as a warning to a friend of his: “It’s a song about a friend of mine, who’s led a rather excessive life. This song is for him. I know what self-destruction can lead to, and I have tried to warn him. But I am one big hypocrite because when I called him up and told him about the song I’d written, that same night I took an overdose of hash and woke up the next day feeling terrible. It is very hard not to give in to one’s negative feelings. Life is total chaos.”
Like Brian Jones, Jeff Buckley was a gifted musician who died all too young - and who would try any instrument he could lay hands on. On 1994’s Grace, the only full album he recorded while living, he is credited with singing and playing the guitar, the organ and the harmonium, plus tabla and Appalachian dulcimer on the final track, Dream Brother. This dark song was meant as a warning to a friend of his: “It’s a song about a friend of mine, who’s led a rather excessive life. This song is for him. I know what self-destruction can lead to, and I have tried to warn him. But I am one big hypocrite because when I called him up and told him about the song I’d written, that same night I took an overdose of hash and woke up the next day feeling terrible. It is very hard not to give in to one’s negative feelings. Life is total chaos.”
