Mountain Dulcimer Accessories: Stand, Case and Capo

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Last Updated on June 9, 2026 by folkstrings

Most mountain dulcimer guides focus on the instrument itself — which model to buy, how to tune it, what strings to use. The accessories tend to get treated as an afterthought. But a decent case, a proper stand, and the right capo make a real difference to how long the instrument lasts and how enjoyable it is to play regularly. These are things worth getting right from the start rather than improvising around.

One honest caveat before we get into it: the mountain dulcimer is a niche instrument, and the dedicated accessory market reflects that. You will not find the same depth of options you would for guitar or violin. What I have done here is identify the best available options on Amazon in each category — including cases where a non-dulcimer-branded product is actually the right choice.

Recommended Accessories at a Glance

Accessory	Our pick	Stars	Reviews
Wall hanger / stand	String Swing CC01UK-BW	4.8★	6,882	Check Price
Case	Folkcraft Dulcimer Carrying Case	4.6★	27	Check Price
Capo	Folkcraft Dulcimer Capo	4.6★	78	Check Price

Mountain Dulcimer Stand: String Swing Wall Hanger

There is no dedicated floor stand for the mountain dulcimer on the market — at least not through mainstream retailers. What players actually use, and what I would recommend, is a wall hanger. Keeping the instrument on the wall serves two purposes: it protects it from being knocked over (a real risk with any floor stand for a light instrument) and it keeps it visible and accessible, which matters more than people realise. An instrument you can see is an instrument you pick up.

The String Swing CC01UK-BW is the one to get. It is made in the USA from black walnut — genuinely good quality material, not the pressed composite you get on cheaper hangers — with a padded cradle that holds the instrument securely without putting pressure on the neck. It is designed for ukulele and mandolin but fits the mountain dulcimer’s proportions well. At 4.8 stars from nearly 7,000 reviews, it has earned that rating across a serious sample size.

Installation is straightforward: two screws into a wall stud or with appropriate anchors. The hanger swings slightly to allow easy removal and replacement of the instrument. I have used this brand for a cavaco and found it dependable — the instrument stays put without rattling, and the walnut ages well.

Check price — String Swing Wall Hanger on Amazon

Mountain Dulcimer Case: Folkcraft Dulcimer Carrying Case

I will be direct here: the dedicated mountain dulcimer case market on Amazon is thin. There are very few options specifically designed for the instrument’s shape, and most of what comes up in a search is ukulele cases or generic instrument bags that will not fit properly.

The Folkcraft carrying case is the exception. Folkcraft have been making dulcimers since 1968 and this case is built to fit their instruments — which means it fits the standard mountain dulcimer form factor properly. Black nylon exterior with the Folkcraft logo embroidered on the front, padded interior, handle and shoulder strap. It is not a hard case, but it provides genuine protection against knocks and scratches in transit and is far preferable to carrying the instrument uncased or in a generic bag that leaves the headstock vulnerable.

At $120 it is a considered purchase, but dulcimers are wooden instruments that do not respond well to being bumped around. A case that fits properly is not an optional extra if you are taking the instrument anywhere.

Check price — Folkcraft Dulcimer Carrying Case on Amazon

Mountain Dulcimer Capo: Folkcraft Dulcimer Capo

A capo raises the pitch of all strings simultaneously by clamping across the fretboard, allowing you to play in different keys without retuning. On the mountain dulcimer this is particularly useful because the instrument’s limited chord range means being able to shift key quickly opens up a lot more repertoire.

The important thing to get right here: do not use a standard guitar capo on a mountain dulcimer. Guitar capos are designed for a wider, curved fretboard with a different radius. A guitar capo will either not clamp evenly across the dulcimer’s flat fretboard or will apply uneven pressure that causes the strings to go out of tune. I have seen this advice ignored and the results are invariably frustrating.

The Folkcraft dulcimer capo is designed specifically for the mountain dulcimer’s fretboard width and radius. The rubber contact surface sits flat across all strings evenly, the clamping pressure is calibrated for dulcimer string tension, and the result is clean intonation across the whole fretboard when the capo is applied. At 4.6 stars from 78 reviews, it does what it is supposed to do without drama.

Check price — Folkcraft Dulcimer Capo on Amazon

Other Accessories Worth Knowing About

Tuner

A clip-on chromatic tuner is essential. The dulcimer needs tuning before every session and any clip-on chromatic tuner will do the job — this is not a category where you need to spend much. Snark and D’Addario both make reliable budget options. What matters is that you have one and use it consistently.

Picks and noters

Traditional dulcimer playing uses a noter (a small wooden dowel) pressed against the melody strings to fret notes, with the other hand strumming or plucking. Modern players often use fingers or a flatpick instead. If you want to explore noter playing — which gives a distinctively drone-heavy, modal sound — Folkcraft sell noters alongside their strings and accessories. A standard medium guitar flatpick works fine for strumming if you prefer that approach.

Strings

A spare set of strings is worth keeping in your case. See our full guide on mountain dulcimer strings for what to buy and the ball end vs loop end distinction that catches a lot of players out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a guitar stand for a mountain dulcimer?

A generic A-frame guitar stand will physically hold a mountain dulcimer, but the cradle arms are usually too wide and the instrument can slide or tip. The wall hanger approach is more secure and takes up no floor space. If you need a floor stand specifically, look for one designed for ukulele — the proportions are closer to a mountain dulcimer than a guitar stand is.

Does a mountain dulcimer need a humidifier?

Like all wooden instruments, the mountain dulcimer is sensitive to extreme humidity changes. In very dry environments — particularly centrally heated rooms in winter — the wood can crack or the glue joints can separate. A simple soundhole humidifier, the kind used for guitar, will work in the dulcimer’s soundhole during storage. If you live in a normally humid climate this is less of a concern, but in dry regions it is worth taking seriously.

What key does a dulcimer capo work best in?

The mountain dulcimer is typically tuned to DAD or DAA. A capo at the first fret effectively raises everything by a semitone, at the second fret by a full tone, and so on. Most players use a capo to shift the instrument from D to E, F, or G without retuning. The Folkcraft capo works cleanly at any fret position — it is not limited to specific positions the way some guitar capos are.

Author Profile

Daniel Johnstone: Daniel Johnstone is an English writer and folk musician who has been playing stringed instruments for over twenty years. He started on guitar as a teenager before working his way through cavaco, tenor guitar, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, and harp. He founded Folkstrings.com to provide practical, experience-based buying advice for folk instrument players at every level — the kind of guidance he always wished had existed when he was finding his feet.