CHAPTER 3: History to 1800

3.6: Outline of historical development of dulcimers, to c.1800

- showing the norm in bold blue text; less typical features in fainter italics;
features which are new in bold red if they became the norm straight away, in fainter italics if they remained less typical

 
BRIDGING
STRINGING
CONSTRUCTION
TUNING PINS
DECORATION
PLAYING POSITION
TUNING
FINGER GRIP
DISTRIBUTION
1400-1500

- type 0
- type 2
- type 1

- 6I-9I
- 3I-16I
box
plank
horizontal
vertical
- plain round soundholes
- decorated rose, inset?
- on player's knees
- on a table
1-2 octaves diatonic
- two fingers
- finger & thumb
- fist

central western Europe
(> map)

1500-1600
- type 11
- type 12
- chessmen
II III IV
box
integral
vertical
horizontal
- carved (?) soundhole
- knees or table
- neck strap
1-2 octaves diatonic
- two fingers
- finger & thumb
Sweden
1600-1800
Germania - Hackbretts
type 11
10IV + 26IV
V, III
17thC:
18thC:
vertical
flattened nails
- ornate hole carved in soundboard
- knees or table
- neck strap
2 - 3 1/2 octaves diatonic?
ditals = chromatic
- two fingers
- finger & thumb
Far East
Near East
Pantaleon
?
two sets side by side, wire and gut
large size
?
?
- on its own legs
- sitting
4 octaves
diatonic E-g
chromatic
g-e'''
- two fingers
Germany > Sweden
Romance area - salterio
whole or divided whole
- complex variations
- foot bridge chessmen
- 10IV + 14III
- or 24IV
- up to VIII
- salterio piccolo III
 
extended length for bass strings 
 
square 
 
- metal or paper roses set into hole in soundboard
- gold moulding
- on a table
- sitting

- on its own legs
- standing
2-3 octaves chromatic
- two fingers
Mexico
Canary Islands
England
11
?
?
?
?
?
2 1/2 octaves chromatic or half-chromatic
?
USA
New Zealand
Canada

fig. 108b

1600-1800 -
NOT YET IN PLACE

THE DULCIMER
IN THE BRITISH ISLES
SINCE 1800