by 
The Curious Bag
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The dulcimer was probably based on Scottish bagpipes. The characteristic sound of bagpipes, and consequently the dulcimer, is the continuous sound of notes that do not change pitch. This sound is known as a drone.
Origin of The Drone
Although the actual source of the idea for creating a musical instrument with a drone capability is not known, it is likely based on the earliest human vocal arrangements, which were often simple notes or groups of notes sung in unison.
Meaning of the Drone
Human voices, chanting tribal prayers or singing songs about their life and beliefs in unison, create a sense of familial security and shared effort. This concept is mirrored in religious chanting, ancient African folk songs, and even in modern choral music.
Adoption of the Drone to Instruments
The drone has been adopted into many instruments through time besides the dulcimer and bagpipes. The didgeridoo and the hurdy-gurdy are two good examples.
Dulcimer Drone String Tuning
The dulcimer copies the drone of the bagpipes by using two strings tuned in unison and one string used for playing melodies. The melody string is usually tuned one octave lower than the drone strings.
Modern Dulcimer Tuning
The modern dulcimer has expanded to more strings that can be used traditionally with a drone or in fretted combinations.
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