Skyrim: Ancient Stones - Hammered Dulcimer Cover

Hammered dulcimer cover of Ancient Stones, from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, originally composed by Jeremy Soule.
Fun fact: The original piece heard in the game is actually not a hammered dulcimer although it sounds like one. It was a prepared piano on which Jeremy Soule tapped the strings with pencils.
➤ Instagram: / evan.plays.dulcimer
➤ TikTok: / evan.plays.dulcimer
➤ Facebook: / evanplaysdulcimer
- Dulcimer: Homemade, built by myself and a friend of mine.
- Hammers: Dusty Strings #7 double-sided large.

[@kingzandinie]

This song always brings back my nostalgia of my first playthrough of Skyrim. Gets me almost emotional thinking about the good old days

[@KingPhilipsRideshare]

Never to be repeated let’s move forward and not chase what we cannot repeat in our hearts

[@MrWestover34]

100%

[@Josh_728]

@@KingPhilipsRideshare I remember the exact moment hanging around Whiterun around age 21, when Skyrim and all other games lost their magic and I couldn't lose myself into them like I could before. It was like the moment when you're 7-9 and the cool cars and dinosaurs and other toys just turn to pieces of plastic in your hand, never speaking to you again. I've been chasing that feeling I lost that day for 12 years, trying a lot of drugs to enhance the immersion, but nothing. And now for the first time in my life this year, I haven't gamed much at all.

[@KingPhilipsRideshare]

@@Josh_728 hey “this year” is like 10 days so far lmao! Nah I know what you mean. My mom always told me since I was young “life is mostly boring and the sooner you get used to that the easier it is” I didn’t play anything but Smash rarely until my oldest child started to game. Now the magic is back. It’s not a magic that left us. It can’t come with us! It belongs to children. We should be able to grow up and enjoy what we had but this world has us trained to desire desire. I’ve learn that we will never be fulfilled by chasing those memories. You have to make new ones, sharing your time with others. There is no going back

[@Josh_728]

@@KingPhilipsRideshare Man, I'm so old I don't even register anymore when the year changes in the calendar :D Can't wait for my kids to be old enough to play with them and see how it feels. There really is no going back, only forward.

[@wirogalos3377]

That is one of my favourite Skyrim musical pieces

[@EvanPlaysDulcimer]

Agreed, it is one of my favorite fantasy music pieces ever! Especially the original track from the game 😍

[@wisewoman7906]

That would make such a beautiful music box piece.

[@vincentvanhoven3486]

@@wisewoman7906 Oh you're right! That would be amazing 🙂

[@mechadoggy]

My favorite Skyrim song is Far Horizons because it always plays whenever I come back to Dragonsreach and see all the orphans I adopted as they call out “Papa!” to me. (I have a mod that allows me to adopt multiple orphans.) That’s why Far Horizons always melts my heart because it is a song that evokes nostalgic feelings of returning home and being welcomed as a father by your children.

[@Izaak.]

i just picked up a 70s model, 24 string, im brand new and would like to learn this in the new few years, as it looks pretty advanced to me, question is, can i play this tune with a 24 string, and do different strings produce different sounds?, regards@@EvanPlaysDulcimer

[@kiraoshiro6157]

"do you go to the cloud district very often? oh what am I saying.. of course you don-" *gets shouted into oblivion*

[@braydenbanks4228]

Literally.

[@DragonPanda131]

I just saw Zhongli from Genshin Impact say this, and now I know the context thanks to this random comment. Thank you stranger.

[@Sakhmeov]

"I'll have you know there's no PUSSIIIEEEE!"

[@lineautox]

*Gets sent to the Cloud district* "Oooh, that brothers, Hanging In the air."

[@TheRealNSA]

“Let me guess, someone stole your sveet roll.”😂

[@RezaQin]

I wish I could play Skyrim again for the first time. Jeremy Soule really put so much love into the music tracks that there's no way it would be the same game without him.

[@davefulford8890]

When I played Skyrim VR, it was like playing it for the first time, but instead of looking at the world I was in it.

[@kat0na_cat]

I’ve never played Skyrim. Prolly gonna play it after I finish baldurs gate 3

[@Apoch86]

Yep, agreed. And ESVI wont be the same either because Jeremy Soule isn’t doing the music as far as I am aware.. quite disappointing..

[@greygolem]

Skyrim, like ffvii, owes so much to it's soundtrack. Secret of mana as well. Need for speed carbon is another game the music raises above it's station.

[@AngelusNielson]

I didn't like Skyrim, but I'll admit the music was *chefs kiss* (I like more structure plus I hit a main quest bug part way thorugh)

[@jeremyday9056]

Music like this is what made exploring Skyrim so breathtaking and memorable.

[@spiritseas]

444 likes

[@peternilsson8193]

Not sure if I've ever experienced such instant goosebumps as I did at 00:19

[@Nemu_2.5]

fuck yeah, what a suprise ❤

[@therealracer135]

Made my hair stand on end, pretty crazy

[@yolof456]

wife had to ask if I'm ok

[@KalonOrdona2]

Same, went looking for this comment

[@pkevin13800]

It was like : 😐......... 😲

[@cameronward1548]

I will never forget. 12 year old me sitting up at 12am on a school night. After having just gotten skyrim for the xbox 360 for my birthday. A cold winter night. Wrapped in a blanket. Walking around the night time tundra of skyrim. The northern lights in full bloom, the howl of the wind, and then stumbling upon winter hold. Truly a magical experience I wish I could have for the first time again. I will ALWAYS. Love skyrim and her people. From the fair haired nords. To the argonian dock workers. This world is a place many could only dream of. And I would happily call it home. Despite its many dangers.

[@syminite1]

Damn! This was like the Ultimate description! I was 31 when this game dropped and WOW! Everything about this game was a Wow. Land, exploration, people, dialog, books, history, dragons, and danger. Skyrim sits as king of ALL open world rpgs and just may be the best rpg of all time. 😊😊

[@C.D.V.92]

my friend, skyrim soundtracks are what i hear at night and they take me there, night skies full of stars with the northen lights blessing the land with wonder and magic.

[@good-questions]

Well spoken, traveler

[@nikkolaus91]

Sounds like Ensiferum lyrics lmao

[@CW_274]

I could have written this. Skyrim got me through some really tough shit all through my teen years. It will always be a sort of home for me

[@kuppih4933]

the problem with skyrim is that even if you get tired of the game, your soul is tied too tightly to it and it just doesn't let you leave

[@TheWolfboy567]

Oh this brings back memories of walking through the wilds of Skyrim with the two moons hanging high in the sky as i watch the dragon fly over the mountains.

[@suzannepottsshorts]

And occasionally, mammoths hovering

[@zacharyrollick6169]

Did you ever try it in VR? When I did, it felt like I was playing it again for the first time. Standing on the edge of the Rift staring down at Eastmarch with my own eyes was magical.

[@professorlegacy]

Because of this, I fired up Skyrim again after several years, turned the volume down, and cranked THIS on repeat. Absolutely magical ❤

[@OllyJC]

I have several monitors at work, so I started playing a skyrim ambiance video on YT on the laptop screen with an earbud in to not bother others. This song always gets me in the feels...

[@LerkinGherkin]

Downloading now ✅️

[@lastfirst3512]

Bro you can take off the knee pads and lipstick lmao

[@professorlegacy]

@@lastfirst3512 First off, I'm not your bro, bro. Second off, wtf does that even mean? Sounds rude. Maybe if you clarify, I'll take that back. In the meantime, I'll just chalk it up to you being on the hunt for your missing chromosome.

[@cemaikanhigh]

​@@lastfirst3512your thought is disgusting. Stop hating musician appreciation

[@ShizakuIzaiyoi]

bruh you out here makin us old gamers get in the feels 😭

[@erikpoephoofd]

Old gamers???

[@jackglinsky4305]

Uhh this game came out in 2011

[@diehard096]

13 years is a long time guys. Especially in video game years.

[@erikpoephoofd]

@@diehard096 fuck, there are teenagers that were born after Skyrim was released

[@shanephillips4011]

​@erikpoephoofd yea I was already 22 when this came out, thst feels like another age.

[@CeraphineLuna]

Idk who dulcimer is but that's the coolest spoon lute solo I've ever heard

[@baconblitz772]

never heard it called a spoon lute, always just a hammered dulcimer

[@kylewitter2806]

@@baconblitz772r/whoosh

[@julietellsthetruth4811]

This will now and ever be a spoon lute.

[@erik.schlegel]

lol... you a funny, funny human. :)

[@Frank-be1vb]

What kind of elf is a Dulci-mer?

[@SplendidFellow]

From one dulcimer player to another, well done dude! This looks really tricky, nailing those bass arpeggios took a lot of practice I'm sure! Cool dulcimer too!

[@EvanPlaysDulcimer]

Thanks so much! It actually wasn’t too bad bc the key I play it in is pretty standard and fits on the instrument very well, and I’ve been playing this tune for awhile so it’s in my muscle memory pretty well 😌. And thank you, me and a friend of mine built it and I’m happy with how it turned out

[@NamaanXI]

​@@EvanPlaysDulcimerwait....you built your Dulcimer??🤯 Incredible....

[@CommodoreN64]

One of the most beautiful pieces ever written, in my opinion

[@courtneygrier2015]

Agreed! Streets of Whiterun too!

[@HowardRoarkBR]

I agree

[@Specimenrealm]

"Ah, a new day dawns in Whiterun. May your journey be filled with adventure and your burdens be light, traveler."

[@gormauslander]

I mean, it doesn't seem fair to say "it's not a hammered dulcimer" and then describe how Jeremy turned his piano into a hammered dulcimer XD

[@cindyrissal3628]

So it wasn't really a hammered dulcimer...it was a piano used like one. A piano tapped w/ pencils. That doesnt make it a real dulcimer. Thats like saying bc a player used a bow on a guitar, the guitar suddenly turned into a violin. You *DO* know the difference between a dulcimer & a piano...don't you??

[@gormauslander]

@@cindyrissal3628 I've seen inside both of these so yes. The difference is that a piano has the option to use keys. It's still a box with stretched strings across. If you made a giant dulcimer and added keys it would be a piano

[@EvanPlaysDulcimer]

@@gormauslander the layout and arrangement of the notes on a dulcimer is very different though, so a dulcimer with keys wouldn’t make a piano. However, the concept is similar, and the dulcimer is an early ancestor to the piano after all.

[@ZA-mb5di]

​@@EvanPlaysDulcimerwhat?

[@sicilianmammalian]

It's not a hammered dulcimer, the technique the composer used is called prepared piano

[@BrewsterMcBrewster]

SO BEAUTIFUL! I think they should use your version in Solitude at the Winking Skeever! Maybe you could jump into the game and play all over Tamriel! I've got a horse; you could ride with me!😁

[@EvanPlaysDulcimer]

Love this comment, thank you. I’d love to play in some Tamriel Taverns!

[@etandrepont]

@@EvanPlaysDulcimerlove love love this music 🙌🏼👍👏

[@kenbrotsch6634]

Whatever...Beautiful, thank you Evan! It was a most extraordinary mornin due to our Creator God and the gift he blessed you with. Use it wisely...it is most precious. THANK YOU FOR SHARIN,PLEASE CONTINUE,...NAN🎉

[@theundead1600]

lol, passers by sees you both and says” you have a bard with you?! Fancy ! Good day.”

[@Wewillbeokay8]

Perhaps a new mod is in order.

[@aaronmccolley9335]

When 0:19 hit my mouth was AGAPE. I couldn’t believe how perfect the rendition was. From beginning to end, this was an inspirational performance. Well done.

[@thisisjames4474]

Oh to experience walking among the snowy, dusk lit mountains, the clanging of hammers on anvils, the babbling of a nearby brook and the distant roar of dragons. All that married with songs like this to create one of the most immersive environments ever created in gaming. Thank you Bard, for helping us relive memories of old. SKOL!

[@Wewillbeokay8]

Reminds me of the fact that for the first month I played Skyrim I had no clue you could fast travel. Let’s just say I did a lot of discovering. 😂 This is beautiful btw!!!

[@Kindred...]

I'm not ashamed to say same..

[@Wewillbeokay8]

@@Kindred... that makes me feel better. 😆

[@Kindred...]

@@Wewillbeokay8 glad I'm not the only one

[@LvL_7_Mage]

now, i love my heavily irradiated cowboy as much as the next person, but i sure do miss my battlemage now

[@heffyhoof]

This is the sound of a world yearning for another world.

[@TheCraftyGypsy]

Bro when you hit the chorus. My whole body got chills. You’re a living legend, thank you

[@valentinanunez3708]

THE RELEASE AT SECOND 00:20 oh my god that was glorious

[@WW.I.I.I.]

I never played a lot of games growing up, I'm 28 now and have been playing skyrim for a few months and the game itself has had positive impact on me... Growing and improving my character in the game has made me reflect on growing and improving in my actual day to day life. The game is very therapeutic and an excercise in the importance of decision making.

[@Amirikl1]

I hope the composer of this piece is very proud of you. It's sad so many of us actually don't know anything about the people who created these masterpieces... It's usually like that. I admire the minds who come up with such beautiful creations, but I've almost never researched the actually talent behind it.

[@TheZeke64]

Not many people know this, but the dulcimer were a race of elves sometimes called “sweet elves”. They were known for being neighborly and great bakers, but were wiped out near the end of the second era by orsimer, who only ate meat and distrusted the dulcimer, believing them to be two-faced manipulators. Few accounts survive of this, the smallest of mer races

[@shpup]

hahahaha

[@Renomon0]

was waiting for this one since I saw him play this at the renaissance :D Wonderful! as a fellow hammered dulcimer player, inspirational!

[@dansonbranson]

i came across this by complete accident but dude this is??? so incredible??? i am stunned! you played beautifully, and the hammered dulcimer all on its own lends such an ethereal quality to an already lovely song. absolutely banger job.

[@ABlindHilbily]

I dont know how I got here but I can honestly say that im very happy I am.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

Probably the coziest track in the Skyrim OST for those winter days indoors.

[@HRRaz]

This song is my top 3 of all time fantasy songs. It was meant to be played on a dulcimer, nothing else. Side note: it wouldn’t hurt to put an add-on to this song. Like an extra verse - an extended version - a new version. Just to add to the pleasure of listening and dreaming

[@coffeelionn]

So.... I'm going to need the entire soundtrack played on this instrument. Beautiful playing 🥲 (First time discovering this instrument)

[@kaizerkeith2771]

Hammered dulcimer is a new instrument for me, never seen one before this video. It's so cool, like a piano, balalaika, and drum rolled into one.

[@RedBattalion9000]

I've never seen this type of musical instrument. But, this sound is exactly Skyrim sound.

[@peteh.8265]

Dude, this is amazing. Well done!

[@wilhelminasol9920]

Bringing back the best moments from my journey through Skyrim ♥️

[@justintime41776]

Skyrim was such a great game and the music was just as excellent.

[@TrentFalkenrath]

Well, I have a new favorite piece of music to listen to.

[@talitherose]

I’m low vision, so it looks like you’re just playing air ~ and somehow I love it even more!!! 💜🌟✨ Keep your magic!!

[@matteogurrado4370]

Oh my god you finally made the whole song, i love it

[@persephonehades7547]

I haven't played Skyrim in so long. This is really putting me in a peaceful, nostalgic mood.... Oh no, I feel the urge to play again lol

[@NobuxD]

The music is so beautiful. It really made Skyrim as beloved as it is now.

[@lizzieisbaked]

I love how all the comments are looking back on Skyrim, I still play it on a regular basis. It’s my comfort game 🤍

[@GoldenLeafsMovies]

Ah yes, the song when you start running around the shops to buy ores to smith.

[@Bekonor]

this video should get more views! minimum 100k views! it's so beautiful 🙂

[@SlimHadey]

I’ve played Skyrim so many times it feels like my second home. Listening to this music reminds me that Skyrim hit in more ways than just a one of a kind RPG. In fifty years I’ll go back to my home away from home, when so much time has passed I barely recognize it. Stand at the summit of High Hrothgar and watch the sun set on Tamriel once more.

[@vaughnkopacz2196]

i find this instrument to be fascinating, yet hypnotic but strangely relaxing.- love the sound this produces when played.

[@DKrog]

thank you. your rendition gave me that shiver up my spine. :D

[@RetrOchannel]

A sublime arrangement.

[@Jalae]

i was like "this sounds a hell of a lot like wintersday music from gw2." no suprise then to learn that jeremy soule did a lot of the music for gw2.

[@TooLateForIeago]

I’m convinced that if Jeremy Soule had lived 200 years ago, he’d be accounted one of the great composers with Mozart and Beethoven.

[@chilabs07]

Sounds phenomenal! Just wow ❤

[@MrThomtree]

This was lovely, thanks so much for playing and posting a video about it. :)

[@mikeyrussell4836]

Bg3, Elden Ring, and the other greats that have come since Skyrim have never matched how fucking bad ass the music is. Skyrim is the goat.

[@geeknproud321]

The music made a massive difference for the Elder Scroll series. Even oldies like Oblivion and Morrowind are playable today partly because the music sets the mood and kinda helps hide the deficiencies of the games.

[@TravelWithTerahTX]

Just beautiful! Could listen 2 this all day/night!

[@drawnecromancy]

Oh, this is one of my favorite tracks from Skyrim, and you're playing it so beautifully. I love it, thank you.

[@patrickmyers7569]

I cant get over how fucking pretty this tune is

[@tylerbrown8026]

First time I saw a hammered dulcimer being played was in Hebert Utah 1999 and I’ve been obsessed ever since 😂 sounds of heaven I swear.

[@BillyHarden]

Listening to this, i feel more at home than visiting my parents.

[@AndromedaCripps]

That is a very fun fact in the description!!! Beautiful cover btw, sounds so perfectly at hone on hammered dulcimer, and such a wonderful song and performance!!

[@GordiansKnotHere]

That sounds beautiful man!

[@bassdriver1000]

Отличное исполнение, звучание инструмента шикарное, получил удовольствие! Спасибо.

[@WavingWorld]

Sometimes I forget that I put 400 hours into Skyrim and how great the music was along the journey. 👌👌👌

[@SabotAndHeat75]

Skyrim gave is one of the best OST’s ever made.

[@LeonardoSNogueira]

This is mesmering!!! Awesome precision

[@kevgmei]

Never heard of this instrument, but that looks really hard to learn and tune, and really impressive that you built it yourself! Also sounds really good!

[@silviofoj]

God, Skyrim has the best soundtrack ever.

[@countrycutie3263]

I got chills listening to this; the memories of playing Skyrim for hours at a time came rushing back!

[@tonyperez2703]

The wave of nostalgia is overwhelming! So beautiful!

[@theemutsenfabriek]

Beatifully played and beautiful piece 😊

[@moschmo2464]

i wish this was on spotify

[@SS-tf2yp]

Oh....good old memories....

[@cosminvladconstantin]

Man, you killed it! Great job, awesome cover and wonderful playing. It was a pleasure listening. Many thanks!

[@XeStarstryder]

This was so beautiful to listen to, and you play so masterfully. Thank you for sharing 😌

[@Mainbusfail]

incredible. that's the nicest sound I've heard in a while

[@michael88h]

Every time this song plays I’m usually stealing the owners of the building blind.

[@lindamclean8809]

What a beautiful sound! ❤❤❤❤

[@prismonthethehorizon5793]

Good job! 👏👏👏👏👏 It sounds so pretty 🥰🥰🥰

[@writerofunimportantthings]

How many people are able to listen to this and NOT immediately want to fire up Skyrim?!

[@TheCrowbar474]

Theres a nip in the air. Cold wont be good for my crops, never is

[@Fedethedangerous95]

Mesmerizing sound, and your precision and control over the instrument are incredible. Makes you wish these instruments made a comeback in contemporary music

[@rejvaik00]

Dulcimers are still used somewhat in contemporary music, although they are more often the variant found in the US, the so called Appalachian dulcimer The Rolling Stones used it wonderfully back in their day recommend listening to _I am waiting_ or _Lady Jane_ and you'll hear it nicely

[@Fedethedangerous95]

@@rejvaik00 Thank you!

[@0num4]

Beautiful work. This could also be a great 12-string guitar piece, considering the double-stringed nature of the melody. Also, that's a really great sounding instrument you've built! You should be proud of your work, physically and musically.

[@killerkitchen2534]

Definitely definitely should've walked down the aisle to this at my wedding

[@snakyjake9]

Someone please make a mod where a bard performs this live! Great job dude

[@krebgurfson5732]

Never has a song better encapsulated the feeling of blasting Lydia of a mountain because you wanted to see how far she’d go

[@brodaciousmax8025]

I've never seen this instrument before. Sounds beautiful! Well done playing it. As a musician, I appreciate the talent.

[@theaveragegamerno1589]

You know with that hair this guy is a metal head at heart. I want to see him do some battle music!

[@octogonSmuggler]

This gives me oblivion vibes now lol that game had some fantastically calming string music.

[@pooperdigman8064]

pov: your in ur first play through and ur messing around in white run looking through dragons reach and contemplating trying to steal an elven sword from a locked case, talking to random people in the bannered mare, wondering why jorvasker is an upsidown boat

[@isiahbertrand3764]

I hear rolling thunder the sound of rain, horse hoves on cobble roads and the cling rustling of my armor and weapons

[@universal_wisdom3416]

If this was posted 11 years ago it would have at least 5 million views by now.

[@Haggispk]

Literal chills when it kicked off at the start

[@wez740]

I've never played Skyrim before but i really enjoyed that. I just clicked to see what the weird instrument i'd never seen before sounded like and it was amazing. Thanks

[@Zerostar369]

Beautiful. It would be a shame to lose such amazing artistry and culture due to hard lines drawn in the sand by unreasonable forces.

[@futureconsequence5374]

I gotta say this is one the best videos i've ever seen ever! I became very emotional hearing this causing me to think about how amazing humans are. From the talent of this young man, which is outstanding, to the people from long ago that created the instrument having the ability to understand vibrations, and the sheer fact we exist and can slightly understand any of how the universe, (the inner workings of a much larger brain) works.

[@dlhilton3759]

Only game I ever played simply to explore the music.

[@Jtracy1698leet]

I always kinda wonder how musics like these would fare back in the ancient times.

[@DarkSnP]

I remember the cold night on launch i got to play this. Brings ne back to the hype train and the payoff we dont get often any more. Ah how a video game can move one is silly but definitely real when thinking back that was a fantastic year and launch

[@marcomarek7734]

❤