o play this unusually shaped instrument, the right hand plucks the strings with a plectrum while the left hand plays the melody by pressing a small stick against the frets located under the first string.

Appalachian Dulcimer By Rickey Lair Dorchester, New Brunswick Circa 1980 Rosewood, mahogany, spruce, mother-of-pearl Overall length: 90 cm; diameter of body: 17 cm; sides: 7.4 cm Gift from the Massey Foundation

While the playing technique and number of strings for this instrument are those of the traditional dulcimer, the fingerboard is shorter, ending at the rose. The bridge, which is centred on the broadest part of the soundboard, is outfitted with a brass tailpiece. In contrast, the traditional Appalachian dulcimer is equipped with a central fingerboard running the entire length of the body; a nut and saddle at either end support the strings.

     

Rickey Lair

Rickey Lair made his first guitar after completing a community college programme in design. His primary concern is with the quality and beauty of the woodwork. The trademark of Lair's instruments, which include guitars and dulcimers, is their highly personal design. The elegant, refined lines are evidence of painstaking craftsmanship.