In 1996, Garrett Viggers picked up his first guitar and began singing and leading worship at church. A few years later, he heard the hammered dulcimer being played by Rich Mullins and was in awe of the melodic and percussive dance. He purchased his first D25 hammered dulcimer from Dusty Strings in 1997. In 2006, Garrett heard the lap dulcimer being played by Butch Ross, stand-up style (like Garrett plays guitar). The sound waves created by the lap dulcimer quickly inspired Garrett to add this instrument to his collection. Garrett describes the lap dulcimer as “a western diatonic sitar sound.”
Singing while playing the hammered dulcimer has been a unique musical expression that Garrett has been working at for the past ten years. Garrett has sought to connect the ancient sounds of the hammered dulcimer within the modern world of music, including arrangements with his Thin Places Band. Currently, Garrett lives in Redding, CA and has created a diverse expression of music in different venues and contexts, both in the city and in church worship.