B-Side Guys

Instrumental covers often walk a perilous tightrope—lean too heavily toward faithful reproduction and they feel unnecessary; stray too far from the original and they risk losing the song’s essence. Sam Edelston’s interpretation of Billy Joel’s “She’s Always a Woman” on the fretted dulcimer achieves that rare balance, transforming the piano-driven classic into something both recognizable and revelatory.

The mountain dulcimer—typically associated with Appalachian folk traditions—might seem an unlikely vehicle for Billy Joel’s sophisticated melodicism. Yet Edelston coaxes remarkably nuanced textures from his three-stringed instrument, creating harmonic depth where others might find limitation. The arrangement preserves the original’s emotional core while introducing new timbral qualities that cast the familiar melody in fresh light.

Pulled from Edelston’s groundbreaking album “Making Waves,” this track exemplifies his mission to elevate the dulcimer beyond its folk associations. The cover demonstrates how the instrument’s unique voice can serve complex contemporary compositions—each note rings with a crystalline clarity that piano cannot achieve, while maintaining the melodic sophistication of Joel’s composition.

Technically, Edelston’s performance showcases remarkable dexterity as he simultaneously handles bass notes, chordal accompaniment, and melody lines on just three strings. This creates the illusion of multiple instruments playing in harmony, a technique Edelston has perfected through years of pushing the dulcimer into unexpected territory—from Led Zeppelin covers that garnered viral attention to the Neil Diamond interpretation now featured at Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum.

What makes this particular cover compelling is how it honors both traditions: Joel’s songwriting craftsmanship and the dulcimer’s folk heritage. The result feels neither like an awkward transplant nor a novelty, but rather a musical conversation across genres and eras—proving that in skilled hands, three strings can indeed capture the emotional complexity of a timeless ballad.