Which Psaltery Do I have?

I'm trying to calm some of the confusion that many folks seem to have about identifying which psaltery model they have. This includes my own and other builder's psalteries. I will tell you how to find out. There will be a second video on finding out how to know the string tuning layout.

[@dholeton]

Well done Rick. Your explanation is spot on.
Dave

[@karronleesmith6403]

thank you, this was a big help.

[@DieterLo1]

Good and helpful explanations! Seeing that instrument today first time. Want to order one this week! Greetings from Germany.

[@lisamariechant511]

Great video. I wish I had found your video before buying my psaltery. I would of bought a baritone had i had the correct information

[@alanfbrookes9771]

The confusing thing is calling them psalteries. Psalteries have been around since mediaeval times and before, but they were always plucked. Bowed psalteries are a modern instrument that was invented during the middle 20th century. The same problem occurs with dulcimers, which originally were hammered, and those are now usually referred to as "hammered dulcimers" to avoid confusion with modern versions of the Swedish hummel which have come to be known, especially in the USA, as Appalachian or Mountain Dulcimers, though they in reality are not dulcimers at all.
You can pluck a bowed psaltery, like a normal psaltery, but bowing a traditional psaltery is almost impossible without their being built with a special type of wrest pin which allows the string to pass over the pins. (Otherwise the wrest pins would get in the way of the bow.).

[@brianv8739]

Thank you for sharing.

[@jessicaperkins5772]

Sooo cool!

[@darlagoddesshate]

Thank you!

[@artofthesybil]

Wonderful video! So helpful. Question, The tenor and alto psalteries appear to be the same size and have the same number of strings. Is the only difference the type of string, steel v wrapped?

[@Psalteryman]

Thanks! They are pretty close in size, but the alto is around 2" shorter than the tenor you see. String type, size, and length are what determines what each string can tune to. It is not just one specific pitch, but is more of an range of a few notes. I plan a video in the future to talk about psaltery strings and just instrument strings in general.

[@artofthesybil]

@@Psalteryman Ah, that makes sense! Thank you!

[@robinwilson-sauls9891]

I could HUG you! After an Assault, I chose to learn the Psaltery-due to no longer being able to hold a Violin. I have never learned Music, but want to do so. I bought 3 Psalter's, Alto/Soprano/Tenor. Charlie Barnett made the Alto, 32 string, and marked off Octaves every 3rd, 4th peg-why I am seriously confused. I need, am begging you for help on how to understand the layout of all Psalter's.

[@Psalteryman]

Send me a good pic of the top of the psalteries, so I can see the pin layout. I can tell you each note, but this video explains it pretty well. Start on the left anywhere there is a group of three pins. Going from the tip toward the bridge, they will be F# G# and A# then go from there .

[@timothydonovan1261]

Thank you !