If I knew there was an instrument that was the piano and a stringed instrument all in one, I would've just picked up this psaltery instrument right here. This is too amazing to not play at least once in this lifetime.
Thank you for this wonderful video! I just purchased my first starter psaltery and I'm having a wonderful time playing through a hymnal to learn how to play it. I've been playing the piano for twenty plus years, but the psaltery is a new experience! Bowing well is my biggest challenge. Thank you for explaining the various parts of the psaltery (hitchpins, sounding board, etc.). Now when I read about bowing technique, I'll have a better idea about the anatomy of the instrument.
Great instructions...I just bought one of these while visiting the Gatlinburg Townsend area of East Tennessee this week-end. It has the such a sweet tone of music, I absolutely love & enjoy playing it! Using your video I have already learned some songs. It is one of the easiest instruments to play. If you can (play by ear) you have got it made with one of these.....Thanks for this tutorial, please keep them coming!
THANK YOU MR. JONES. I really enjoyed your most excellent presentation. The sound reminds me of tiny bells. I was rereading in the NKJB Old Testament: DANIEL 3: The image of gold & 4: Daniel & his friends promoted. From C3, verse 5. "that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up..." I did a web search and was enlightened by your page and finding that it was originally plucked and later bowed. May God bless your music.
The real difference is in bowing, and there the question returns to the choice between HIP and a soundscape which it adds to. For those who like shivering in mud huts, be my guest and go the whole hog, for myself it makes a contribution to a modern rethink of the old tunes. Music is an art, and art is plastic, or it dies, sometimes it's right, sometimes not, and this, at the moment, is right in helping us retrace older sounds, as we understand its development from Arabic styles.
@WendyWisemanFisher One trick is ignoring the hitchpins in runs, particularly descending glisses. That's the benefit of the string passing over the head of the hitch, you can skate straight down the side.
@gebass6 This instrument is really not designed to played easily with the fingers with or without fingerpicks. I would suggest a large zither or autoharp for that kind of playing. I am working on a experimental 4 octave bowed psaltery which would have to be supported by a stand and played by moving around it.
Thank you so much for such a helpful video! I'm new to the bowed psaltery and was stumbling along on my own..Nice to have a great, well explained reference video! Now I have to go check out your beautiful psalteries! Very nice! Barbara
The bowed psaltery is very easy to learn to play. If you can play a piano with one finger, you can play this instrument. You will need to learn a little bow technique so as to get good tone.
This instrument is so easy you really don't need a place to learn. If you can play a piano with one finger (and who can't) than you can play the bowed psaltery. The only challenge is to make it sound beautiful and that is accomplished with the bowing
The strings on my bowed psaltery are steel music wire in three different gauges. You can usually find this size wire at music stores. You would not be using violin or cello strings.
I admit to one cheat that I use if I'm playing a set of faster tunes in the same key. I tune the right hand side to the appropriate scale and tune the opposite note to replace the natural one. So for G Major (E minor) the F's go up to F# and the F#'s on the other side go down to F. After a while you get really quick at making the adjustment between numbers.
Thank you so much for sharing this information! I'm considering buying a psaltery, but I wanted to get some solid information about it before making the decision to invest money in yet another instrument (I've got quite a few as it is). I'm definitely encouraged to buy one now, thanks to you!
@gebass6 That's because the strings are extremely thin. You can just about pluck them with fingernails in tuning, but most certainly not play them with plectra. Yup, I have four harps in the room as I write,
Some people doing a presentation on Middle Age music had a psaltery, they said it sounded like wind chimes and played with fingers for at least one part.
@PikachuMaiden Different beast, the mediaeval psaltery is an ancestor of the zither/dulcimer. There's an open battle going on between the two, given that the bowed beast is avowedly recent: the pluckers claim theirs is the only real one, wilfully ignoring the very real fact that the shape of their instrument was not as definitive as they claim - the Finnish Kantele and Ala Bohemica are closer in shape to the Bowed, and there were also square, apsidal, and spire-shaped forms.
An excellent presentation James! I especially appreciate your use of the word "Developed" instead of the very wrong "Invented" some people insist on using. Although I don't own one of your BP's I have seen a few. I do think your Bowed Psalteries are not only beautifully built and sound great but are adjusted correctly to play well right out of the box. Good Work!
Many thanks, James, for this turtorial. I have never come across double-bowing before. I must buy another bow! I have posted my video response. Constructive and educational comment would be welcome. Have you any instructions on replacing strings? That's a nightmare for me! Should I start at the hitch-pin or the tuning-peg? Good wishes, Colin.
I found a 25 string psaltery at a flea market and bought a bow and rosin. The strings are dark and some don't play well at all- they sound scraping like. What kind of strings does it use and where do I buy them? what is a good site for tuning the strings? thanks
I'm sure there are specialty shops out there, but if you have a REALLY good guy at a guitar store, he will be able to match up the strings quite well. Just make sure the connecting pins match the instrument.
I play the violin and I usually change my psaltery's strings with old E strings that have broken! Probably not the most professional way to do it, but it's certainly accessible for most and pretty cheap, comparatively.
The alto I'm playing uses three different size wires. I do sell the wire through my web site. You can get individual strings through a music store but they will be more expensive.
It can be aligned to one edge of a table but that would mean you would only be able to play one side. If you need it self supported, I sell a platform which can be attached to a camera tripod. You would set the psaltery on the platform, raise it to the preferred height and then play normally. You would then have access to both sides of the psaltery.
Yes. My alto is by far my most popular. You can get more information here. www.jamesjonesinstruments.com/bowed-psalteries I have some in current stock for immediate purchase.
If I knew there was an instrument that was the piano and a stringed instrument all in one, I would've just picked up this psaltery instrument right here. This is too amazing to not play at least once in this lifetime.
Thank you for this wonderful video! I just purchased my first starter psaltery and I'm having a wonderful time playing through a hymnal to learn how to play it. I've been playing the piano for twenty plus years, but the psaltery is a new experience! Bowing well is my biggest challenge. Thank you for explaining the various parts of the psaltery (hitchpins, sounding board, etc.). Now when I read about bowing technique, I'll have a better idea about the anatomy of the instrument.
I found this is the Bible Bless you for this video the sound is beautiful
Great instructions...I just bought one of these while visiting the Gatlinburg Townsend area of East Tennessee this week-end. It has the such a sweet tone of music, I absolutely love & enjoy playing it! Using your video I have already learned some songs. It is one of the easiest instruments to play. If you can (play by ear) you have got it made with one of these.....Thanks for this tutorial, please keep them coming!
That's so cool! You should make a video :)
I'd Love to play some old Civil War tunes on that. Beautiful instrument.
Precioso de verdad. Me he quedado hipnotizado con las melodía. ¿Qué no es bueno?. Es mágico. Enhorabuena y gracias
Valuable information! I'm arranging a friend's melody for Appalachian ensemble - this video is tops.
THANK YOU MR. JONES. I really enjoyed your most excellent presentation.
The sound reminds me of tiny bells. I was rereading in the NKJB Old Testament:
DANIEL 3: The image of gold & 4: Daniel & his friends promoted.
From C3, verse 5. "that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up..."
I did a web search and was enlightened by your page and finding that it was originally plucked and later bowed.
May God bless your music.
My path to this video was the same 😁
That was excellent! Thank you! What a beautiful-sounding instrument played very well!
The real difference is in bowing, and there the question returns to the choice between HIP and a soundscape which it adds to. For those who like shivering in mud huts, be my guest and go the whole hog, for myself it makes a contribution to a modern rethink of the old tunes. Music is an art, and art is plastic, or it dies, sometimes it's right, sometimes not, and this, at the moment, is right in helping us retrace older sounds, as we understand its development from Arabic styles.
Nice sounds! 2 Weeks ago started with a Tenor Psaltery in Germany.
Very intriguing...I want one now.
Love it! I found one that’s in good shape at a second hand shop and purchased it. Beautiful sound.
thank you
mr. jones never played any instament or studied music but might buy one now
What a wonderful instrument! You tutorial is clear and excellent. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Really nice bowing technique. Smooth & sweet instead of the more common "raspy" & "scrapey."
Awesome and interestingly beautiful.
Wonderful. Thank you so much for the tutorial. Definitely going to get one.
@WendyWisemanFisher
One trick is ignoring the hitchpins in runs, particularly descending glisses. That's the benefit of the string passing over the head of the hitch, you can skate straight down the side.
Very good introduction. I always wanted to know more about them as I had seen one at a shop once.
@gebass6 This instrument is really not designed to played easily with the fingers with or without fingerpicks. I would suggest a large zither or autoharp for that kind of playing. I am working on a experimental 4 octave bowed psaltery which would have to be supported by a stand and played by moving around it.
Thank you so much for such a helpful video! I'm new to the bowed psaltery and was stumbling along on my own..Nice to have a great, well explained reference video! Now I have to go check out your beautiful psalteries! Very nice!
Barbara
The bowed psaltery is very easy to learn to play. If you can play a piano with one finger, you can play this instrument. You will need to learn a little bow technique so as to get good tone.
This instrument is so easy you really don't need a place to learn. If you can play a piano with one finger (and who can't) than you can play the bowed psaltery. The only challenge is to make it sound beautiful and that is accomplished with the bowing
The strings on my bowed psaltery are steel music wire in three different gauges. You can usually find this size wire at music stores. You would not be using violin or cello strings.
I found this most helpful, thanks.
My kindred instument
I admit to one cheat that I use if I'm playing a set of faster tunes in the same key. I tune the right hand side to the appropriate scale and tune the opposite note to replace the natural one. So for G Major (E minor) the F's go up to F# and the F#'s on the other side go down to F. After a while you get really quick at making the adjustment between numbers.
Very nice - Thank you - you just made my brain smarter.
Thank you so much for sharing this information! I'm considering buying a psaltery, but I wanted to get some solid information about it before making the decision to invest money in yet another instrument (I've got quite a few as it is). I'm definitely encouraged to buy one now, thanks to you!
@gebass6
That's because the strings are extremely thin. You can just about pluck them with fingernails in tuning, but most certainly not play them with plectra. Yup, I have four harps in the room as I write,
Some people doing a presentation on Middle Age music had a psaltery, they said it sounded like wind chimes and played with fingers for at least one part.
Really amazed by the sound of this instrument. I'd love to get one down here, but think must be pretty difficult... (Argentina)
@jpjonesmi
The only trick is to twist the instrument to get to the semitones and back quickly.
@PikachuMaiden
Different beast, the mediaeval psaltery is an ancestor of the zither/dulcimer. There's an open battle going on between the two, given that the bowed beast is avowedly recent: the pluckers claim theirs is the only real one, wilfully ignoring the very real fact that the shape of their instrument was not as definitive as they claim - the Finnish Kantele and Ala Bohemica are closer in shape to the Bowed, and there were also square, apsidal, and spire-shaped forms.
The first song is Old Rosin the Bow.
Awesome 👏
I want one! =) lol. I play piano, and this thing sounds amazing! May look into it once I start working at my new job. =D
Great
@gebass6 or even a plucked psaltery, which is what the psaltery came from
i love this video
An excellent presentation James! I especially appreciate your use of the word "Developed" instead of the very wrong "Invented" some people insist on using. Although I don't own one of your BP's I have seen a few. I do think your Bowed Psalteries are not only beautifully built and sound great but are adjusted correctly to play well right out of the box. Good Work!
@NonstopRam
Depends on range and currency, but cheap: a 2-octave alto should cost less than $150
The rosin for my cello bow cracked and while looking for more i found a bowed psaltrey
@williestratton
Rather, from the Kantele with some thinking from the Ala Bohemica
Awesome
bought an older one wanting to learn anyt tips?
Wow
The precision required along with speed......
what are the notes for that beautiful song you play in the begining?
What is the name of the first song in the video? (The intro song)
Do you use rosin on the bo, the same as a violin?
Many thanks, James, for this turtorial.
I have never come across double-bowing before. I must buy another bow!
I have posted my video response. Constructive and educational comment would be welcome.
Have you any instructions on replacing strings? That's a nightmare for me! Should I start at the hitch-pin or the tuning-peg?
Good wishes,
Colin.
I found a 25 string psaltery at a flea market and bought a bow and rosin. The strings are dark and some don't play well at all- they sound scraping like. What kind of strings does it use and where do I buy them? what is a good site for tuning the strings? thanks
I'm sure there are specialty shops out there, but if you have a REALLY good guy at a guitar store, he will be able to match up the strings quite well. Just make sure the connecting pins match the instrument.
I play the violin and I usually change my psaltery's strings with old E strings that have broken! Probably not the most professional way to do it, but it's certainly accessible for most and pretty cheap, comparatively.
The alto I'm playing uses three different size wires. I do sell the wire through my web site. You can get individual strings through a music store but they will be more expensive.
Hello sir..do you have this instrument for sale?
I have plenty of psalteries just like this one for sale via my website jamesjonesinstruments.com
Is a psaltery considered a type of zither?
Cool. Kindof like a ukelin.
bello
I don’t know about the bowed part, but the psaltery is mentioned in Psalms 57:8 so it’s MUCH older then what this guy says.
Psaltery was used thousands of years ago. Biblical writings reveals it.
We orchestra people call those short strokes staccato
0:40
Price of such?
Can this be played on a table top?
It can be aligned to one edge of a table but that would mean you would only be able to play one side. If you need it self supported, I sell a platform which can be attached to a camera tripod. You would set the psaltery on the platform, raise it to the preferred height and then play normally. You would then have access to both sides of the psaltery.
Wow. You're very clever. Saving this video. I think I want one. Is the one you are playing tenor or alto? Sounds like alto?
Yes. My alto is by far my most popular. You can get more information here. www.jamesjonesinstruments.com/bowed-psalteries I have some in current stock for immediate purchase.
The Bible mentioned psaltery, so I wanted to know what it sounded and looked like.
The psalters mentioned in that book were plucked. The bowed psaltery is an invention made in the 20th century.
true worshippers worship with the timbrels of the heart and the organs and minds and are saltery instruments,on a secret chord
He's been into the doobage!
Lovely. :-)
I have one but can play no where near your skill. no where close.
the psaltery of the bible is a different, harp-like, plucked, instrument. the bowed psaltery didn't exist until the 20th century
@Misakichi021
Is this guy dead or alive?