The Nigerian Mvies

The Nigerian Mvies
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Sunday 27 April 2014

Tips When Creating 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.

Building this instrument starts from the frame. Pieces for the frame are cut from plywood into triangular shape and the edges trimmed using a band saw. The frames are then glued together until they hold up in the desired manner. In order to attain pressure on the triangle edges, a jig that is lined with wax paper should be used, before placing a clamp on the ends to help fit the frames tightly in position.

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 regarding the hitch and tuning pins are also drilled. Those for the hitch pins need to be produced vertically in the front side, whilst for the turning pins must come on the back. What comes next is the instrument's finish. A harder and brittle finish enables the sound to come out in quite a perfect way.

The bridge should then be build by using a piece of hardwood, grooved to the centre of one side of the instrument. The bridge should be in such a position that it provides enough room for the shortest string for vibration and winding as desired. The tops of all pins should be roughed up to enable them hold the strings to be used in place.

Stringing your instrument is the next phase wherein every string is actually threaded via every hitch pin. The strings should then be pulled over the pins then later laid on top of the bridge. These are subsequently looped on top of the tuning pins along with tightened to offer a proper 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 played using a bow which can simply be built from hardwood and some fishing line. The hardwood should have a small hole on both long end sides, though there should be a double knot tied in one of the holes. This bow gets its final look from fishing lines that are wrapped around the stick length. It would work better if a few inches of space are left at the centre of the stick.




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