Dulcimers are Modal instruments. Played like the white keys on the piano
the scale from C to C, no sharps or flats. A mode is a type of scale and on
the dulcimer the modal scale starts on the third fret and continues from do , ray,
Mi,.. to the octave do on the tenth fret .
Different modes can evoke different tonal emotions and some songs sound better
in certain modes or tunings.
The reference links above show some basic chord positions for four popular tunings.