Psaltery Facts: Shop for Instruments, Accessories, Gifts

Psaltery Facts

The psaltery is a stringed musical instrument belonging to the zither family. Psalteries are often depicted in the manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures of 12th to 15th century Europe. The psalteries of Ancient Greece resembled small harps. Modern psalteries are based on the guitar zither and the autoharp.

Psalteries have appeared in a variety of forms and styles throughout history. On the earlier instruments that resembled harps, the strings were plucked. On subsequent versions, the strings could either be struck or bowed.

The bowed psaltery was introduced in the early 20th century and is the style most frequently seen and played today. Modern psalteries are triangular in shape, played with a bow, with strings running down both sides of the soundboard. This unique triangular shape allows the end portion of each string to be bowed.

Here are a few more interesting psaltery facts. When playing modern bowed psalteries you don’t need to learn fingering positions. Each string produces a single note. The bow plays just one note at a time, so the psaltery is primarily a melody instrument. Its haunting sound is well suited to folk songs, hymns, and carols.

More Psaltery Facts

Fun Fact
A person who performs on this string instrument is called a psalterist.

Notable psalterists include Satis Coleman, James Jones, Rick Long, Lowell Mason, Eric Meier, Donna Missigman, Ann Tucker, and George James Webb.

Strangeling Angel with a Psaltery

Jasmine Becket Griffith

Strangeling Angel with a Psaltery 11×14 Unframed Fantasy Print Poster

Listen to the Bowed Psaltery

Introduction by James Jones

James Jones has been building custom musical instruments in his rural Bedford, Virginia shop since 1978. He produces an entire line of fine string instruments, including bouzoukis, hammered dulcimers, Appalachian dulcimers, harps, mandolins, zithers–and of course, psalteries. Visit his website, James Jones Instruments to see what’s available now. This introduction to the instrument is played on one of his 2-1/2 octave alto bowed psalteries.

Best Gifts for Music Lovers

We’ve created more than 2,000 products for string instrument players and music lovers. Find a unique gift for your favorite psaltery player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music Psaltery collection.

Find a Psaltery Online

Zither Heaven Black Walnut Bowed Psaltery

Product details:

Black walnut with a contrasting cherry stripe and bridge
Black walnut frame rails with a hard maple pin area
22 strings, starts on G4 ends on F6
Includes bow, rosin, tuning wrench, fleece drawstring bag
String chart with note lay out and stick on note letters
Overall dimension: 21.5 x 7 x 2 inches (L-W-H)
Ideal instrument for anyone interested in learning music

Black Walnut Bowed Psaltery with 22 Strings Zither Heaven Psaltery – Made in the USA

Baltic Psalteries

Since 2012 Baltic Psalteries has manufactured more than 2,000 unique handcrafted instruments. Sharing music is a passion–more than 200 psalteries have been donated to orphanages, music institutions, and large families.

Baltic Psalteries
Our psalteries are designed for both professional musicians as well as people with no special musical education. We have had some fabulous reviews from folk groups and famous musicians.

Psaltery Gift Ideas

If you need to find a gift for your favorite psaltery player, you’ve come to the right place. We’re always creating new products and sharing our favorites from other designers.

Shop for Psalteries and Accessories

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This means that–at zero cost to you–we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Roosebeck Baritone Psaltery Strings RBSPSB – Set of 37 – Phosphor Bronze – String Gauge .012 Roosebeck Psaltery Bow – Mongolian Horse Hair – Solid Walnut Wood – Very Light – Easy to Play D’Addario Violin Rosin – Natural Light – For Violin, Viola, Cello – Made with All-Natural Ingredients Teeburon I Love Psaltery Colorful Hearts Women’s T-Shirt – 100% High Quality Cotton – Black