There has been a great resurgence of interest in both instruments. One reason is surely that unlike many other instruments both dulcimers are quite easy to coax a tune from even if you have no musical background. If you can hum a tune you can begin to play one. Early progress is rapid and most people who start with skilled instruction continue to play for a lifetime.

A word about each instrument as they are quite different, sharing only strings and a common name. The hammered dulcimer is the older of the two. It's antecedents go far back in history. It is the precursor to percussion keyboard instruments like the piano as the strings are struck with hammers. They come is a variety of sizes and complexities but the beginner's instrument is quite simple and easily transported. The hammered dulcimer has a voice that carries easily in conjunction with other instruments and is often used in folk ensembles and more than occasionally with orchestral groups. Compared to other instruments a good hammered dulcimer is quite affordable.

By contrast the mountain dulcimer is a fairly recent development though it too has ancient roots. It is often referred to as the Appalachian dulcimer, indicating its more exact place of origin, or the lap dulcimer describing the way it is played. Unlike the hammered dulcimer it has a relatively soft voice and is more suited for intimate situations or small groups. Modern builders have often succeeded in enhancing the carrying power of the instrument without detracting from its "sweet sound." The exact origins of the mountain dulcimer are obscure though it is not more than a couple of hundred years old and no references are known earlier than the middle of the 19th century. It is a diatonic instrument and a member of the fretted zither family. The earliest instruments were played with a melody string and drones. Most instruments today are built to play chords. The mountain dulcimer is still evolving. Modern versions take many forms including baritone and bass range ones and some that are even fully chromatic.