"California" is a song written by Joni Mitchell that first appeared on her 1971 album Blue. It was also released as the second single from the album, as a follow-up to "Carey".
California Joni Mitchell Dutch single cover
Appalachian dulcimer
Videos
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings, originally played in the Appalachian region of the United States.
California (Joni Mitchell song)
…on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March 2025, actress-singer Amanda Seyfried performed the first verse of "California" while playing the Appalachian dulcimer. Her rendition earned praise from critics and viewers, with some positively comparing her voice to Mitchell's. "California" enjoyed a 794% increase in…
Dulcimer
Loraine Wyman, who gathered folk songs in the field and performed them in concert halls, shown in the May 1, 1917, issue of Vogue holding an Appalachian dulcimer
Folk singer Jean Ritchie playing an Appalachian dulcimer
Courting dulcimer