Editor's Note: This is an archive of a page from the Unicorn Strings' web site. It provides a brief explanation of the instrument and how it is played. We are publishing it as a supplement to our review of Unicorn Strings bowed psalteries here.

Unicorn Strings Web Description

What Is A Bowed Psaltery? Simply put, a bowed psaltery is probably the easiest instrument in the world to play. It's a 20" long by 8" wide triangle with strings running its length and is played with a bow. As you can see by the picture at the right, you play the sides of the instrument only (all strings become side strings as you progress toward the tip of the instrument). One side of the instrument is all natural notes, like the white keys on a piano. The other side is all flats and sharps, like the black keys on a piano. The space between each pin is a separate note. How Is It Played? To play a bowed psaltery, simply move the bow against the strings between the posts. Our psalteries have note guides with the letter for each note printed on it. The music has each note identified with its corresponding letter. When you find a song you like you let the letters on the music tell you which letter on the instrument to play, then you let your familiarity with the song tell you when to play a long note or a short note. It's as simple as that. By picking one or two songs and playing them over and over a number of times, you quickly learn those songs well enough to play for other people, you learn where all the notes are on the instrument and you master the bowing techniques. Instead of weeks or months to learn the basics of the instrument, spend a couple of hours with a bowed psaltery and you'll be well on your way to mastering the instrument. If you have a music background, you can master the psaltery almost immediately. If you have no music background, you can master the psaltery in a few hours. No other instrument lets you become so proficient so quickly. The bowed psaltery is indeed the ideal instrument for the musically challenged.

Conclusion

This is one example of the materials Gene and Jessica Jaeger provided to explain and promote bowed psalteries. Even if you didn't buy one of theirs, you may have seen this ad before you chose one.

Was the "learn everything you need to know in a few hours" a little overstated? Maybe. But the fact that you can instantly get a good sound out of a well-tuned psaltery and well-rosined bow is undeniable.

For more information about Unicorn Strings bowed psalteries (and bowed psalteries in general), see:

• Unicorn Strings Bowed Psalteries - An overview of the Unicorn Strings bowed psalteries, including models and accessories.

• When You Unbox Your Bowed Psaltery - Unicorn Strings' "cheat sheet" guidelines for people who want to start playing without reading the manual.

• Introduction to Bowed Psaltery - An overview of Bowed Psalteries in general.

• Bowed Psaltery Buyer's Guide from our sister site RiverboatMusic.com. Includes links to current manufacturers and recently discontinued ones that are still available in some areas.

Like most of the articles on our HarpersGuild and CreekDontRise pages, this article came as a result of reader inquiries, and discovering that much of the "information" on these things was either patchy or unreliable. So I've picked up a few different pieces to make certain what I was writing about them was correct and tracked down what seem to be the most reliable sources of information.

That said, if you have a correction or a question, please contact me and I'll be glad to hear from you.

Also, if you make or play bowed psalteries, and want to provide additional information, corrections, etc. we'd be glad to hear from you.

Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you come away with some great ideas for "sharing the joy."

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race

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