The acoustics of hammered dulcimers
David Peterson · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2005
The hammered dulcimer, a stringed instrument played with two wooden hammers, probably originated in the Middle East, but it has become part of the musical culture of many countries. In the U. S., the folk revivial in the 1970’s sparked renewed interest in the hammered dulcimer as a concert instrument. Today, despite some consolidation in the retail market, there are still hundreds of builders, mostly amateurs, who experiment with the basic design. The most important design parameters will be discussed from a practical and acoustical point of view: soundboard size, shape, and composition, internal bracing, bridge shape, string arrangement and composition, hardness of bridge caps, hammer weight and stiffness, instrument resonances due to the unique string splitting and stiffness of the body, and soundboard modes.