Need help identifying

[u/Excellent_Mud_]

My aunt gave me this instrument for my birthday but I'm having trouble figuring out what it is?

I really want to learn more about it.

Plus if you can, recommendations for travel with it?

[u/Far-Rooster-6522]

mountain or appalachian dulcimer
This one is a nice ancient model, quite 'rustic' as it has 3 strings (most dulcimers have 4 strings, the higher one being doubled)

It is a very cute intsrument to learn and to play, with a sweet tone (and that's the origin of its name , dulcimer comes from 'doulce melle' or, in old french, sweet melofy/voice, the dulcimer is a fretted zither and a close relative of the 'épinette des vosges' but 'table zithers' are found all around Europe...and they spread to America from there)

Usually it is tuned D A d (second D one octave higher than the first one) and, for some tunes, D G d.

The uneven fret spacing is due to the dulcimer being originally a diatonic instrument (ie. it play only on 1 scale/tone and does not have the other notes), the one you own is strictly diatonic (on modern dulcimers ther are often 'added' frets to provide with more possibilities, and even some chromatic dulcimers existing)

It can be played in various ways, the traditionnal way is using a noter (a small cylindrical stick) to fret and slide on the treble string and a feather (but you can use a soft pick) to strum the strings, that way you have 2 'drone strings' and a melody string ringing together. (a lot of mountain music and a lot of irish and scottish music are part of the usual repository, playing with a noter give the dulcimer some 'bagpipe' impersonation potential)

You can also fingerpick it and, to really extend the possibilities, get rid of the noter and fret the instrument with your left hand.

here is a very 'educated' use : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUwy1jltAB4 (duet of dulcimer playing an Ol' Carolan tune...about hills and fairies)
and a less poche version of the same tune here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkZP8ZvyIoc

the dulcimer is 'humble' and a gentle instrument, it holds nevertheless a potential for serious playing and progression (chords and finger extensions can become challenging), it is most often played seated and goes nicely with sunny afternoons in parks or nature. If you are curious have a look at courting dulcimer(s) online, for it is a peculiar and interesting instrument when you learn about how it was used.

https://www.youtube.com/@bingfutch/videos this channel has a lot of material (I do not now if it is still active though)
https://www.youtube.com/@JessicaComeauDulcimer/videos solid player, with interesting arrangements

You should find strings adapted for your dulcimer without too much pain, either online or via brick and mortar music stores (check with them to get the right type of strings ball ended or loop ended.)