The Mountain Dulcimer in Washington State

     As you probably already know, the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer - which is sometimes called, for obvious reasons, the lap dulcimer or the fretted dulcimer, to distinguish it from the hammered dulcimer - is not usually thought of as an instrument with any historical link to the Pacific Northwest of the United States.  It's American historical roots are in the Eastern United States.  However, there are mountain dulcimer players all over the United States, including here in Washington State.  Listed below is data that Washington State dulcimer players might find interesting


     According to the Everything Dulcimer website, there are music clubs which cater to the mountain dulcimer throughout the United States, over four-hundred (400) in forty-seven (47) states.  However, there are just two (2) such music clubs in Washington State:

• In the Tri-Cities in Eastern Washington, the Three Rivers Dulcimer Society. 
• In Bellingham in Western Washington, the Bellingham Dulcimer Club.

     Learning to play the mountain dulcimer in Washington State can be a challenge.  Both the clubs listed above have regularly scheduled meetings at which instruction is available.  Private, one-on-one lessons, however, can be difficult to find.  The Everything Dulcimer website is a good starting point.  Mountain dulcimer instructors are listed, by state, on that website.  Several are listed for Washington State.


     Making an "over-the-counter", retail purchase of a mountain duclimer in Washington State can also be a challenge.  There are, however, a few "walk-in" sources of mountain dulcimers and accessories in Seattle and nearby areas:

• One is Dusty Strings, and it's at 3406 Fremont Avenue North in the Ballard District of Seattle.
• Another is d'Aigle Autoharps And Folk Instruments at 19106 Des Moines Memorial Drive South in Seatac.  Owner Pete Daigle can be contacted by telephone at 800-630-4277 or by E-Mail at pete@daigleharp.com or visit his webstite at http://www.daigleharp.com/. 
• And yet another is Crossroads Music at 2100 Lawrence Street in Port Townsend.  Owners Sara Lopez or Dan Gassner can be reached by telephone at 360-385-1471 or by E-Mail at info@crossroads-music.com or visit their website at http://www.crossroads-music.com/.