dulcimer

/ˈdʌlsəmər/

Other forms: dulcimers

A dulcimer is a stringed instrument used mainly in American folk music. It has three strings, and a fretted fingerboard like a guitar.

Like a banjo, the dulcimer is a stringed instrument which is played like a guitar, with a pick or your fingers. Like a guitar, the strings are strummed with one hand while the strings are held down with the other hand on a fretted fingerboard. The dulcimer has an elliptical shape that's very distinctive. There is also a type of dulcimer played by striking it with little hammers. Both kinds of dulcimers make a light, sweet sound.

Definitions of dulcimer

1. noun

   a stringed instrument used in American folk music; an elliptical body and a fretted fingerboard and three strings
   type of:

   stringed instrument

   a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound
2. noun

   a trapezoidal zither whose metal strings are struck with light hammers
   type of:

   cither, zither, zithern

   a musical stringed instrument with strings stretched over a flat sounding board; it is laid flat and played with a plectrum and with fingers