The Appalachian dulcimer belongs to the zither family, typically featuring three or four fretted strings. Originating in the Appalachian region of the United States, its body spans the length of the fingerboard, and its fretting follows a generally diatonic pattern.
While often referred to simply as a dulcimer, it may be distinguished from the unrelated hammered dulcimer when called mountain dulcimer, Kentucky dulcimer, plucked dulcimer, fretted dulcimer, lap dulcimer, teardrop dulcimer, or box dulcimer. The dulcimer has accrued several nicknames, some of which are shared with other instruments, such as "harmonium," "hog fiddle," "music box," "harmony box," and "mountain zither."
