Appalachian

The Appalachian area of the eastern United States (especially the southern portion of the region in Western North Carolina), was settled early in American history by people of English descent who have carried on a style of folk music in the European fashion. In fact, ethnographers have studied music and storytelling in the region as a source for 17th century English material. A distinguishing characteristic of music from the southern and eastern mountain region of the United States is use of the mountain dulcimer, a small fretted zither with the fretboard located over the whole length of the box. The instrument has three or four strings, which are stopped with the left hand to form chords, and plucked with the right hand to play melodies.