How to Play a Bowed Psaltery

Aside from playing the spoons, the bowed psaltery is the easiest instrument in the world to play. A 20 x 8-inch wide wood triangle with strings makes up the instrument itself. It's played with a bow. Bowed psalteries have note guides for every note printed on the side of each instrument for easy guidance. Check out these simple instructions and get started playing. It's the perfect instrument for the person with no musical knowledge.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Easy play music with printed notes

1. Find a song you like and are familiar with. Make sure the letter of the notes are printed on your music sheet if you can't read music.
2. Hold your bowed psaltery in your left hand if you're right handed. Hold the bow in your right hand.
3. Look at the first note on the music sheet and find the note guide with the matching letter on the side of your instrument.
4. Move the bow against strings between the posts above the correct note guide. Hold the note for a long time if that's how it goes in the tune, a short time if that's what the tune calls for.
5. Use your left index finger on the soundhole on the bottom of the instrument to experiment with the tone of the note as you play.