A banjo dulcimer is an
Appalachian dulcimer
The Appalachian dulcimer (many variant names; see below) is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings, originally played in the Appalachian region of the United States. The body extends the length of ...
modified by adding a vibrating membrane to the body of the instrument. This changes the tone and volume of the instrument, operating on the same principle as the
banjo
The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...
.
Homer Ledford, a luthier during the early part of the revival of the dulcimer, built several banjo dulcimers, which he called the ''dulcijo'' (a portmanteau of dulcimer and banjo).
[Alvey, R. Gerald. ''Dulcimer Maker: the craft of Homer Ledford''. University Press of Kentucky, 2003. ]
Makers of banjo dulcimers
*Doug Thomson
banjomer.com has been producing banjo dulcimers since 1980 - called "Banjo-Mer"
*
McSpadden Dulcimers McSpadden is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*Clem McSpadden (1925–2008), American politician
*Dwight McSpadden (1932–1990), American football coach
*Gary McSpadden (1943–2020), American pastor, singer, songwriter, produce ...
began producing banjo dulcimers in the early 2000s.
*Mike Clemmer produces a banjo dulcimer called "ban-jammer"
*Dennis DenHartog (folknotes.com) has been building a solid frame banjo dulcimer called the "Banj-Mo" since spring, 2001.
See also
*
Banjo mandolin
*
Banjo ukulele
*
Banjo guitar
Banjo guitar or banjitar or ganjo (Australia) is a six-string banjo tuned in the standard tuning of a six-string guitar (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4) from lowest to highest strings. The six-string banjo was introduced in the late 19th century. Less widesprea ...
*
Guitjo
References
{{reflist
Banjo family instruments
Box zithers