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!
Well made and it made a big difference in stabilizing the instrument on my lap. I can concentrate on learning to play better instead of spending effort keeping the dulcimer in position. Thank you. I would like to buy the ends only so that I could use the strap on another dulcimer at times.
Called for help as I knew nothing about dulcimers. Staff quickly explained the best type of string for my dulcimer. Thanks
I really like and appreciate the approach Aaron takes in his instructional books. Starting off with a basic step, adding a layer at a time until you have a new tool to enhance your dulcimer playing. This book guides you through techniques to acquire the skills at playing accompaniment. I look forward to learning these skills as I have long wanted to play accompaniment with others and in jams.
Fun way to spice up fiddle tunes
Keeps your dulcimer from sliding around or falling off your lap and I love the Quick-Release ends!
Dear Richard,
I ordered and received a variety of items from you on two separate occasions all of which came very quickly from America to my little house in the UK
None of it has been fitted yet as I am not yet ready, but the stuff is very high quality and looks a treat when just placed in position.
Unfortunately the import duties added quite a lot to the price of these beautiful artefacts and it will probably be infrequent . It is a shame but as I am only doing my dulcimer building for fun I need to keep the costs down. However I shall make my decision as I progress. It is impossible to get dulcimer parts in the UK as it is a rarely seen instrument.
Keep up the good work Folkcraft!
Arrived very quickly, all the way to Japan. Haven't used the strings yet, Japanese summers aren't kind on strings so I'll wait til the autumn. Book is great, quite a few tunes I've learnt on my other instrument, the flute, so I'm having a lot of fun learning them from another angle.
The selection of songs will ensure that with your baritone dulcimer you will be able to play in jam sessions. The book contains a great section on music theory and has a extensive set of chord charts for AEa tuning. It is evident that a lot of thought and work went into this book.
Enjoy Civil War music very much, and look forward to learning to play them on my dulcimer.
We sell Aaron's tab books and we do recommend them highly. With the number of books he has authored, one can cover just about all aspects of dulcimer playing. Aaron is one of the more accomplished and talented players and his books reflect that knowledge and ability.
Just what I was looking for. A hard to find product packaged in a manageable size.
This book was recommended by my dulcimer teacher and it is as advertised. Some fairly well known tunes, of varying speed with embellishments added. I have found the book to be very useful as I hone my finger picking skills and learn embellishments.
The hymns in this collection took me back to my early days in many small country churches. This will be a collection that I will enjoy for a long time to come. I will note that the song listing in the product description differs by six songs from what is in the actual book. The product description lists Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, Crying Holy, O' Come Angel Band, Old Gospel Ship, This World Is Not My Home, and Where The Roses Never Fade but those songs do not appear in the second edition of the book that I received. Instead of those six songs, the following were in my book Down By The Riverside, Go Tell it on the Mountain, It is Well With My Soul, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, Just As I Am, and All People That On Earth Do Well. Still it is a good collection of hymns that I will be enjoying as I learn to play these favorites on the mountain dulcimer.
I’m a long time musician but new to the dulcimer. I love O’Carolan music and very much enjoyed this book!
Great customer service. Answered all my questions in a timely manner. Made recommendations. Excellent products. Highly recommend!
Solid material allows me to make nut or bridge to the height and width that fits my dulcimer fret board. I am glad Folkcraft had this option. Thank you again
Learned a lot from this DVD 👍
Very accommodating craftsmen. Nothing is too much trouble for Richard, the owner, and the finished product is superb in terms of build and tone. I will not be using anyone else in future
Great arrangements and a good selection of songs. This book is very enjoyable with the dulcimer.
Fun & Challenging
Very impressed with the Quality & Sound of my Dulcimer, well made & fast shipping!
Love, love,love this book!! Wonderful that it has melody and harmony tabs for alot of the songs!! Fun when you're playing with a friend!
Nothing to write home about but they work. I have installed them on several dulcimers I have made for my family and the machine heads do the trick. I will buy more.
Excellent value! This book has 50 tunes. Some familiar and many new. A terrific addition to my dulcimer music library.
Every time I use Folkcraft, i receive excellent service and have come to respect their acheivements in service. Highly recommend!
I have looked for Dulcimer strings local with no good success. I sent for them at Folkcraft they arrived on time and worked great. This was a dulcimer that I built
about 40 years ago I just started to pick it up and play it again after some time. Great strings and sound. Thanks so much Folkcraft.
Great companion book to Join the Jam opens up new avenue of playing. Thanks for filling order and shipping so quickly!
I have nothing but great things to say about the craftsmanship of my 2 Folkcraft dulcimers. My next dulcimer from Richard will be a custom next year!
I have a Cherry/Butternut and a an all Cherry Folkcraft. The first has an ebony fingerboard. The ebony is amazingly smooth! The woods chosen for all are beautiful. I particularly like the nut and bridge material and that they are strung up as 3 strings. The frets are nice and big and beautifully finished.
BUT - the attention to detail in the finished product is absolutely amazing. I know they hand rub each and every dulcimer with steel wool to finish them off and this step takes this dulcimer completely over the top for me. The feel of it is head and shoulders above the other makers models I’ve played.
Smooth and very nice to the touch.
The case is noteworthy as well. Hand made in-shop, this case is unlike any other dulcimer case I’ve seen. The padding is thick enough and the way it opens like a book leaves you with lots of room for many different sizes of dulcimer. This and the GIGANTIC pocket allow you to cart around LOTS of necessary materials with you. I use it going to teach lessons at the local music shop.
I will be a Folkcraft customer for life. And I will recommend this brand to my subscribers on youtube. Thank you for making such a quality product in every way!
-Mandy
Like everything from Folkcraft, this is built to last. Nice leather attachment, heavy duty clips.
All purchases I’ve made from Folkcraft have been wonderful, especially the beautiful mahogany and butternut dulcimer, whose rich, warm tone gives me pleasure every day. And inspires me to become a better player in order to be worthy of it!
