This article is extracted from the author's chapter on dulcimer construction in the book, Dulcimer Styles by jean Ritchie, to be published in late 1973 by Oak Publications. The complete article contains information on fretting the fingerbord, head designs, tuning pegs, body designs, faces and backs, rib bending, assembling, and finishing.

Dulcimer Styles contains many absorbing chapters on dulcimers and dulcimer people with extensive historical information and notes on playing and tuning styles, dulcimer music in other countries, "old timers," and places where dulcimers can be bought. In addition, the book concludes with a bibliography, a discography, and fifteen songs transcribed for the dulcimer.

It's fun to build a dulcimer, and it's something that anyone should be able to do. Experience in woodworking is useful, but the primary requirement is a love for the dulcimer. Some ability to play, or at least a deep appreciation of the dulcimer and her music will provide far more incentive than superficial cabinet-making skills.