Hammered Dulcimer
$ 495
If you took a Washington State Ferry in the late 1970s or 1980s, you would inevitably come across the sounds of the hammered dulcimer. This trapezoidal stringed instrument is played by striking its strings with small mallets, called hammers, producing a bright, resonant, and percussive sound. Popular in folk and traditional music across Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S., its strings are arranged in courses for rich harmonic and melodic possibilities, and the instrument is usually set on a stand or table for performance. In 2007, busking was banned on the Washington State Ferries after complaints from the influx of soulless new transplants driving up island real estate prices. Today, instead of the blissful tones of the dulcimer, ferry riders are graced with endless pre-recorded safety announcements, lawyer-like informational notices, and the near constant fucking sound of car alarms going off. This is the perfect instrument to buy, set up, and play once or twice. It will look great, taking up space in the corner of a room with some plants on a Persian rug, accompanied by a few cats.