Psalteries are ancient musical instruments with a long history. They began as simple boards with strings attached to pegs and progressed from there to hollow boxes with strings. They are still being used today as they are relatively easy to play and produce the most ethereal sounds. The demand for these instruments has led to a number of craftsmen devoting themselves to their production. If you are looking for a bowed psaltery for sale, it is possible to find one online.
As with any instrument, one can be built quite simply but the more intricate ones take much skill. First and foremost, the craftsman has to have a good knowledge of working with wood. The item has to be solid enough to withstand pressure and one must be able to hold it comfortably. Secondly, musical understanding is also necessary. Some artistic talent helps too with decorating of sound holes and choosing types of wood that look good together.
Bowed psalteries are triangular in shape. The strings run down both sides and it is bowed one string at a time. Modern versions are fully chromatic with the strings on the right side like the white keys on a piano and those on the left side like the black keys.
Handcrafted items often come at a price. Basic instruments are available for beginners that are not as expensive and there are even instructions given on sites on how to make your own. One can first learn how to play on a more basic version and then graduated to one of the truly beautiful more expensive items.
Many different types of wood are used in making these instruments and this can affect the sounds created and how long it lasts. The top has to be light to enable vibrations from the strings to reach the body whereas the frame has to be solid. For example, an instrument may consist of a spruce soundboard with rosewood back and sides.
Each string on the instrument begins at a hitch pin, runs over a bridge of wood running across the top and then round a tuning pin at the base. The tuning pins are used to tighten or loosen the strings. The spacing of hitch pins is one of the factors determining the sound produced. A string must have exactly the right vibrating length or it can easily snap.
Companies selling these instruments usually offer various patterns for decorating the sound hole. The customer has to make a selection and are even given the option of supplying a design by some suppliers. They are often prepared to work with the customer and customize the instrument in other ways too if required.
If you are looking for a psaltery for sale, one of the best ways to find one is with an internet search. This offers various options and many deals include other items besides the instrument such as a bow, tuning wrench and even song sheets. This instrument is less complicated to learn than many other instruments and most websites of companies selling these items have detailed instructions on how to play them.
As with any instrument, one can be built quite simply but the more intricate ones take much skill. First and foremost, the craftsman has to have a good knowledge of working with wood. The item has to be solid enough to withstand pressure and one must be able to hold it comfortably. Secondly, musical understanding is also necessary. Some artistic talent helps too with decorating of sound holes and choosing types of wood that look good together.
Bowed psalteries are triangular in shape. The strings run down both sides and it is bowed one string at a time. Modern versions are fully chromatic with the strings on the right side like the white keys on a piano and those on the left side like the black keys.
Handcrafted items often come at a price. Basic instruments are available for beginners that are not as expensive and there are even instructions given on sites on how to make your own. One can first learn how to play on a more basic version and then graduated to one of the truly beautiful more expensive items.
Many different types of wood are used in making these instruments and this can affect the sounds created and how long it lasts. The top has to be light to enable vibrations from the strings to reach the body whereas the frame has to be solid. For example, an instrument may consist of a spruce soundboard with rosewood back and sides.
Each string on the instrument begins at a hitch pin, runs over a bridge of wood running across the top and then round a tuning pin at the base. The tuning pins are used to tighten or loosen the strings. The spacing of hitch pins is one of the factors determining the sound produced. A string must have exactly the right vibrating length or it can easily snap.
Companies selling these instruments usually offer various patterns for decorating the sound hole. The customer has to make a selection and are even given the option of supplying a design by some suppliers. They are often prepared to work with the customer and customize the instrument in other ways too if required.
If you are looking for a psaltery for sale, one of the best ways to find one is with an internet search. This offers various options and many deals include other items besides the instrument such as a bow, tuning wrench and even song sheets. This instrument is less complicated to learn than many other instruments and most websites of companies selling these items have detailed instructions on how to play them.
No comments:
Post a Comment