Section headings are: Alphabetical list of songs, Parts of the dulcimer, Seating and hand positions, Major key tuning, Strums and picking techniques, Finger picking, Parallel thirds, Major tuning chords and techniques, Open G tuning, Theory of dulcimer tuning, Ionian tuning (major), Aeolian tuning (minor), Mixolydian tuning and chords, Dorian tuning and chords, Phrygian tuning and chords, Locrian tuning and chords, Duets, Transposition charts, and Information about [the Fords'] dulcimer record.

Lyrics, chords, melody line and performance notes are provided for 43 songs, including: Amazing Grace, Ash Grove, Barbry Ellen, Black is the Color, Boll Weevil, Buffalo Gals, Cindy, Crawdad Song, Cripple Creek, Down in the Valley, Gentle Thoughts, Good Old Colony Days, Hush Little Baby, Jacob's Ladder, Jesse James, Let Us Break Bred, Liza Jane, Lonesome Valley, Nearer My God to Thee, Ode to Joy, Oh! Susanna, Old Dan Tucker, Old Joe Clark, Phary's Song, Rock-a-My Soul, Shenandoah, Simple Gifts, Skip to my Lou, Sweet Betsy, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Swing Low, Turkey in the Straw, Wayfaring Stranger, Weeping Mary, When Jesus Wept, and When Johnny Comes Marching Home.