Hammered dulcimer

The hammered dulcimer (also called the hammer dulcimer) is a percussion-string instrument. It has strings stretched over a trapezoidal sound board. The player uses small spoons-shaped mallets or hammers to hit the strings and make music. This instrument has a long history and is loved by people all over the world.

The word dulcimer means 'sweet song'. It comes from ancient languages. The hammered dulcimer came from an older instrument called the psaltery. On the psaltery, the strings were plucked, not hit with hammers. Today, people play the hammered dulcimer in many countries. This includes Iraq, India, Iran, China, and parts of Europe and the United States.

In the United Kingdom, the instrument is popular in places like East Anglia and Northumbria. In the United States, it became popular again in the late 20th century as part of folk music. You can hear the hammered dulcimer in folk music or modern concerts. It makes sweet, gentle sounds.

History

The santur, a type of hammered dulcimer, began in the Middle East. Old pictures of it come from Assyrian and Babylonian carvings from 669 BC, showing people playing it while holding it by their necks. Over time, musicians changed the design, creating many different musical scales and tunings. The early santur was made from wood and stone with strings from goat intestines. It influenced many other instruments, like the harp, yangqin, harpsichord, qanun, cimbalom, and modern hammered dulcimers.

Later, the hammered dulcimer appeared in Western Europe during the early 15th century. It was popular in many countries, including England, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, especially during the Middle Ages.

Strings and tuning

A hammered dulcimer usually has two bridges: a bass bridge near the right side and a treble bridge on the left side. The bass strings are played to the left of the bass bridge. Treble strings can be played on either side of the treble bridge. Playing treble strings on the left side of the treble bridge makes the note sound a fifth higher.

The dulcimer comes in different sizes. These sizes are named by the number of strings that cross each bridge. For example, a 15/14 size has 15 strings crossing the treble bridge and 14 crossing the bass bridge. The strings are usually in pairs, with two strings for each note. They are tuned in unison to make the instrument louder and create a chorus effect. Tuning the dulcimer uses a wrench, similar to tuning a piano.

Hammers

The hammered dulcimer is named after the small mallets, also called hammers, that players use to hit the strings. These hammers are often made from wood like maple or oak, but they can also be made from metal or plastic. In some places, the hammers are stiff, while in others, they are flexible. The head of the hammer can be left bare for a bright sound or covered with materials like leather for a softer sound. Some hammers have two different ends—one side might be bare wood and the other covered in softer material.

Traditionally, some players have used special hammers. For example, a player from upstate New York used hammers made from hacksaw blades with leather-covered wood, while an Irish player made hammers from old bicycle spokes wrapped in wool. Another player from Norfolk, England used cane hammers tied with wool. Just like a piano, the hammered dulcimer uses a hammering action to play its strings.

Variants and adaptations

The hammered dulcimer has many versions around the world. Each one has its own special way of building and playing. Some examples are the santur from Afghanistan, the Hackbrett from Austria, the santoor from Bangladesh, and the tsymbaly from Belarus. Other examples are the hakkebord from Belgium, the salterio from Brazil, and the khim from Cambodia. Many countries have their own special version of this lovely instrument.