Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The Procedure For Constructing A Bowed Psaltery

By Eloise Hewitt


This process is actually considered less involving if compared with other stringed musical instruments. A bowed psaltery is actually triangular in shape and made in such a way to produce diatonic, flat along with sharp notes. Its wooden box allows individual playing of the strings mounted to it. These instruments also come in different models although approximately in an identical structure.

Constructing this instrument starts on the body frame. Portions to the body frame are usually cut from plywood straight into triangular design and the perimeters clipped using a band saw. The structures are subsequently glued collectively until finally they are into position. As a way to accomplish pressure on the triangle perimeters, a waxed paper jig need to be used, prior to placing a clamp on the edges to assist fitting the frames tightly.

A small size hole is then drilled, just in the center of one side of the plywood. This ought to be at the back of the instrument and can either be left round in shape or made to any other desirable shape. On the triangular top, a pencil line is drawn to mark the straight lines meant for the strings. Pins are used to mark the clear cut locations and to differentiate the points for the notes that they correspond to.

Slots for the tuning pins and the hitch are drilled. The hitch pins need vertical slots at the rear front while turning pins made at the back. What subsequently comes after can be a finish for the instrument. It is advisable to note that perfect sound will result from a harder and brittle finish.

The bridge is then built using a part of hardwood which should be grooved to the central area of the instrument. This particular bridge need to be in such a place so that it offers adequate space for the shortest string to proper vibrate and wind. The pins should have roughed up tops allow them offer the strings enough grip.

Stringing the instrument is the next step whereby each string is threaded through every hitch pin. The strings are pulled over the pins and laid onto the bridge. These are then looped onto the tuning pins and tightened to give a firm grip.

An electronic tuner is next utilized to tune such an instrument and get perfect functioning notes. They are furthermore wind in a counter clockwise direction around the pins. The natural notes are intended to run on the right section in an upward manner as those that run on the left side are the sharps and flats ones.

This instrument is actually played out by using a bow which often is merely built from hardwood, with some opening on both ends and several fishing lines. A double knot is though needed to be tied in one hole. This specific bow obtains its final look after the fishing line is wrapped around it. A good wrap of the fishing line around the wood is what is required, though with some space left just around the centre of the wood.




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