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Bowed Psaltery FAQ
What is a bowed psaltery?
The bowed psaltery is one of the easiest instruments to learn, almost as easy as the lap harp. It's haunting and soulful sound
is somewhat reminiscent to that of a violin. But unlike the violin, you don't have to read
music in order to play it! If you do read music, so much the better. But you can choose to play using a
number or letter system instead of the note.
- Where can I hear one?
We have sound clips on our instrument page.
How do you play a bowed psaltery?
As the name implies, the bowed psaltery is played using a bow. It is generally held in one's left hand
and bowed with the right hand. In its simplist form, it is played using one bow to create single melody notes.
Advanced techniques involve using 2 bows, one to play melody and one to add harmony. The notes are found on both sides of the instrument and you play
only the side, not the middle, strings. Natural notes, which are like the white keys on a piano,
are found on the right side. Sharp/flat notes, which are like the black keys on a piano, are found
on the left side of the instrument. The space between the zither pins is where you run the bow.
How can I learn to play it?
You can learn the bowed psaltery in a number of ways. The instruction book we package with
our instruments shows you how to play using a number system, a letter system and standard musical notation.
Regardless of which method you use, to become proficient at playing, it is best to
pick one or two easy songs and practice them over and over until you master them. This not only helps you
build confidence, but also helps you learn where the notes are located. As an aid to learning where the
notes are, we include a note name/number tablature strip to place on the instrument. It can be removed at a later
time when you no longer wish to use it. As an extra helpful guide we have placed dots on
the C notes to use as a position reference. Learning the bowed psaltery doesn't require extensive training;
in fact, your skills can develop in a matter of hours.
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Where can I find songs to play on a bowed psaltery?
There are a variety of tune books which are suitable for use as a source of music for the bowed psaltery.
If you read music, your choices are nearly endless. But if you choose to use a number or letter system,
certain mountain dulcimer tune books as well as EKM keyboard music books offer a variety of music choices.
Number system: We have developed a system that assigns a number value to the
natural notes on the psaltery. The number values we use correspond to the numbering system for
mountain dulcimer tablature when in the Ionian tuning. To play using dulcimer song books,
simply follow the numbers from a dulcimer song you like and play those same numbers on the psaltery.
One great source for dulcimer songs that can be played on the psaltery is "The Best Dulcimer
Method Yet" (10252). It has 139 assorted tunes, the majority of which can be played on the
bowed psaltery. This book and others can be found on the mountain dulcimer book page.
Letter system: To use a letter system, a more extensive source of playing material is found in certain
keyboard song books. Specifically they are called EKM (Easy Keyboard Method. EKM electronic keyboard
music books are written with the letter value of the notes written inside the note to guide you in playing.
Using the same principle as the dulcimer tablature method, simply follow the letters in the keyboard book
and play the corresponding lettered note on the psaltery. These books are listed on the book page for bowed
psaltery.
What is the history of this instrument?
Like the lap harp, the bowed psaltery has its roots in ancient history. The word psaltery referred
to a variety of instruments in differerent shapes and sizes. Most were plucked with the fingers or a quill.
It is thought that the bowed psaltery as we know it today came about in the mid 1900’s when a
German teacher developed an instrument he could use to teach music theory to children.
Since bowed psalteries are set up somewhat like a piano keyboard in that the white keys (natural notes)
are on the right and the black keys (sharps/flats) are on the left, it was easy to incorporate simple
music theory with playing.
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