The psaltery is an ancient musical instrument. The earliest versions were made up of a simple wooden board with strings attached to pegs. This developed into a hollow box with metal strings and a sound hole. The strings were either plucked, struck or bowed. Handmade psalteries are sought after today by those who love the sound they produce.
Those who make these traditional instruments take great care in their construction. Building one is a unique craft as it combines woodworking with science and art. A good knowledge of music is needed in order to understand the properties required to produce the best sounds. Good woodworking skills are essential to produce an instrument which is well constructed and comfortable to play.
In contrast with the plucked psaltery which is centuries old, the bowed psaltery appeared more recently. It has a distinctive triangular shape and is played with a bow. This is run up and down the sides to produce the different notes and only one string is played at a time. The notes produced by this instrument ring with an increased sustain which gives them a haunting quality.
The type of wood used in construction affects the tonal quality, beauty and durability of the instrument. The top is usually made of a lighter wood like spruce or cedar as the vibration of the strings has to be transferred through the top to the body of the instrument. The sides are made of a strong, stable wood like birch.
The strings are also important to the quality of sound produced. They have to have exactly the right pitch, length and mass to vibrate correctly. The spacing of the hitch pins needs to be done with care. If this is done incorrectly, the sounds produced may be scratchy or metallic. Strings can also break easily if the tension is not right. Tuning pins situated at the base are used to adjust the tension.
There is a sound hole on the top of each instrument. There are many different ways of decorating these holes, from hand carving them to fitting them with rosettes. The pattern in which the sound hole is cut and the way in which it is decorated will often be customized for a buyer.
An instrument should not only sound good but it should also be comfortable to play without any strain. This means that the length and the weight have to be carefully considered. The most common way to hold the psaltery is to nestle the base on the inside of the elbow or against the abdomen with the tip away from the body. The left hand holds it while the right hand is used to hold the bow and play.
A psaltery is usually sold together with music sheets and instructions on how to play it and some even come with an instructional DVD. Handmade psalteries can be played without musical training and are as easy to play as using a finger to sound out a melody on a piano. It is a good instrument to play by ear and most people can produce a melody in a short time.
Those who make these traditional instruments take great care in their construction. Building one is a unique craft as it combines woodworking with science and art. A good knowledge of music is needed in order to understand the properties required to produce the best sounds. Good woodworking skills are essential to produce an instrument which is well constructed and comfortable to play.
In contrast with the plucked psaltery which is centuries old, the bowed psaltery appeared more recently. It has a distinctive triangular shape and is played with a bow. This is run up and down the sides to produce the different notes and only one string is played at a time. The notes produced by this instrument ring with an increased sustain which gives them a haunting quality.
The type of wood used in construction affects the tonal quality, beauty and durability of the instrument. The top is usually made of a lighter wood like spruce or cedar as the vibration of the strings has to be transferred through the top to the body of the instrument. The sides are made of a strong, stable wood like birch.
The strings are also important to the quality of sound produced. They have to have exactly the right pitch, length and mass to vibrate correctly. The spacing of the hitch pins needs to be done with care. If this is done incorrectly, the sounds produced may be scratchy or metallic. Strings can also break easily if the tension is not right. Tuning pins situated at the base are used to adjust the tension.
There is a sound hole on the top of each instrument. There are many different ways of decorating these holes, from hand carving them to fitting them with rosettes. The pattern in which the sound hole is cut and the way in which it is decorated will often be customized for a buyer.
An instrument should not only sound good but it should also be comfortable to play without any strain. This means that the length and the weight have to be carefully considered. The most common way to hold the psaltery is to nestle the base on the inside of the elbow or against the abdomen with the tip away from the body. The left hand holds it while the right hand is used to hold the bow and play.
A psaltery is usually sold together with music sheets and instructions on how to play it and some even come with an instructional DVD. Handmade psalteries can be played without musical training and are as easy to play as using a finger to sound out a melody on a piano. It is a good instrument to play by ear and most people can produce a melody in a short time.
About the Author:
For information about unique and beautiful handmade psalteries, visit the home pages of Dave's Psaltery at www.davespsaltery.com today. You can learn the history and construction of this ancient musical instrument at http://www.davespsaltery.com now.
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