Mountain Dulcimer Archives

One end of the double-ended courting dulcimer made by Will Singleton. Photo by Carilyn Vice.

Collector’s Corner: Will Singleton’s Courting Dulcimer

By Carilyn Vice | Description of dulcimer maker adds depth to double-ended dulcimer.

TablEdit Tips: Note Stem Direction

By Melanie Johnston | Change a TablEdit default to make your arrangements look cleaner.

Conwy Castle was built on the instruction of King Edward I of England as part of his conquest of the principality of Wales. Photo by Lorinda Jones.

Wales: The wonder of Wales – a Celtic journey

By Fiona Potts | Friends, family, and members of the Heartland Harp Ensemble explored the "land of song."

Her hard case doubles as a seat as Erin Mae waits on a delayed train between Luxembourg and Frankfurt, Germany. Photo by Justin Lewis.

Europe: Tale of two dulcimers

By Erin Mae | I have always been a bit of a wanderer, and this time the travel bug bit HARD. This summer my husband and I traveled for 4 months, in 7 countries, and across 18 thousand miles. …with 2 mountain dulcimers...

Find out more about Mandy Tyner on her website BanjoLemonade.com and at YouTube.com/@BanjoLemonade. If you are a teacher and would like to be featured in this series, email banjolemonade@icloud.com.

Virtual: Now streaming – ‘Artist Spotlight’ series

By Fiona Potts | Mandy Tyner highlights other teachers on her YouTube channel BanjoLemonade

Kevin Roth with his Cosmic Wink Dulcimer. Image courtesy of Kevin Roth.

California: ‘Simplicity is better’

By Fiona Potts | In August 2023 Kevin Roth and I talked about his latest projects: the book and accompanying album "Between the Notes" and his latest album "Dulcimer Dreamland."

Christmas card, circa 1874. Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Wales: The Evolution of ‘Deck the Halls’

By Fiona Potts | Arrangements illustrate the progression from traditional melody to holiday classic.

Madrid MSS 289. Folios 146v and 147v featuring "Orientis Partibus." View the digitized manuscript at bit.ly/dpn-madrid. Images from the collections of the National Library of Spain.

France: Honoring the donkey

By Fiona Potts | From “Orientis Partibus” to “The Friendly Beasts,” Christmas songs with donkeys are part of a time-honored tradition...

Use the Measure Tool to select and copy notes from the notation staff to the tab staff. Finale automatically assigns the fret numbers. Screenshot courtesy of Geoff Black.

Finesse with Finale

By Geoff Black | Tips for using this heavyweight music notation software for mountain dulcimer tab...

The church of St Peter and St Paul in Olney, England, where John Newton, author of "Amazing Grace" was curate. Photo by Dan Evans.

England: 250 years of ‘Amazing Grace’

By Dan Evans | The words to “Amazing Grace” were written by John Newton in the small market town of Olney in north Buckinghamshire, England, where I have lived with my wife Mary for the past 28 years...