Folkcraft Instruments has been crafting handmade mountain dulcimers since 1968. We've been providing the best dulcimers, plus the dulcimer cases, tab books, dulcimer string sets, and everything else a mountain dulcimer player needs. We even provide dulcimer parts - machine heads and wood parts - for builders of all skill levels. We're happy to build a custom mountain dulcimer for you, make you a custom instrument case, or make you a custom string set. All of our dulcimers are handmade in the USA.
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Folkcraft customers speak out!
from 2560 reviewsThis dulcimer is beautiful! Great sustain mellow sound with the Galax bottom and a lot easier to play with shorter 25” VSL. I’m finding my flat picking is better as well.
I haven't had a chance to use the parts I purchased to restore my "new-to-me" vintage dulcimer, but it was great to be able to find all the bits I needed in one place. Richard offered some valuable advice.
Thanks
The book contains easy to follow and play songs. I really like the way the tabs are written. They have the note values as part of the tab numbers which makes the songs easier to play for me. The songs are well laid out in the book. If there are 2 pages of the song, the songs are on facing pages so it makes them very easy to play as the page changes. I really like the spiral bound book. Very easy to lay out flat on a music stand. No fumbling with changing pages and trying to get the book to lay flat on the stand like many other books. I am somewhere between beginner and intermediate and I found the tabs easy to play at my level. The songs would be perfect for anyone beginner or more skilled. The book has increased my ability to more more smoothly on the fretboard and increased my confidence in myself. Highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
I have tried a number of picks on my dulcimer and these provide the best sound of any I own. Many of the ones I had produced a clicking and twanging sound. These do not for me. The thickness/firmness and flexibility is perfect. The size is perfect to me. The groves in the picks make them very easy to hand on to and they do not slip in my fingers like other picks.
Music Of The World For Mountain Dulcimer was the first dulcimer book I bought when I began playing six months ago. It is primarily music, not instruction. For example, the tablature incorporates hammer-ons and pull-offs marked "H" and "P" and assumes the player is already familiar with their meaning, so I experienced some initial confusion. Many of the pieces were above my level when I began, but the wide range of songs and accompanying CD gave me a sense of what is possible. As I've continued to play, more and more songs are doable, and now two or three of my absolute favorite songs to play come from this book. Back-up chords are noted and give the fret numbers for those who want to figure out an accompaniment to singing the melody. The arrangements are lovely and I will look for more music from these authors.
A thorough and enjoyable reference worth the investment. Whenever I have a question about playing dulcimer, I can usually find a clear and helpful explanation in this book. In addition to being packed with information, the hand drawn illustrations and author's sense of humor make this a warm and welcoming introduction to dulcimer playing.
I didn't get Book 1 because I'd already bought another beginner dulcimer book before learning about this series. I worried that I might feel lost without having read Book 1, or that I'd find Book 2 repetitive of the beginner book I'd bought. Neither one happened. If you already have a basic beginner dulcimer book, Field Guide To The Mountain Dulcimer Book 2 has so much information it will probably be a good complement and not very duplicative. I recommend getting it!
Excellent book for advanced novice/intermediate players. CD of all songs to play along with.
Excellent Capo. Easy to use. Highly recommended.
I love this strap. I ordered it because I needed to switch between the guitar and the dulcimer for a church performance. It was really easy to fasten and unfasten the strap. I highly recommend it!
The Folkcraft fretboards are always high quality and don't warp! Strings
stay in tune and last a long time!
Doug Thomson Rancho Cucamonga, California
As usual very satisfied with the timely shipment of my order. Richard and crew are great
I purchased a 24" black walnut back and sides with butternut top dulcimer. It is the California style. Beautiful work of art!! Wonderful sound. I am older and my fingers simply will not spread like they used to. The 24" is perfect. The dulcimer is the best looking and sounding dulcimer I have ever seen/heard (a very, very sweet mellow sound). Everything is perfect. All the joints are perfectly clean. The sound holes are the classic "f" and are perfect. The soft case that came with it is very well padded and the monogramming is very, very attractive. I have never had an instrument that that I love as much as this one. I love the sound and the way it looks. Every time I see it, I want to pick it up and play it. I was so pleased with how quickly it was shipped to me and how well is was protected for shipment. The web site is so easy to use and find things that I want. There are excellent articles and information available that really helped me determine that this was the dulcimer that I wanted. The excellent web site was one of the deciding factors for me to purchase this particular dulcimer from Folkcraft. I looked at all the other dulcimer makers and in every way, Folkcraft came out at the top. I would recommend Folkcraft dulcimers to anyone and everyone. So, so very pleased with everything!!!!!
Was looking for a case for the travel sized lapsteel I recently built. This case is a great fit for testing travel functionality with good quality for the price (very reasonable).
Like all of Larry Conger’s books, the tunes in this one are enjoyable and playable.