Ringing Strings Bowed Psalteries

Ringing Strings

Bowed

Psalteries

handcrafted by

Rick Long

Clinton, Tennessee

(865) 660-4026

ricklong@ringingstrings.com

WELCOME

Here in our little corner of the "web" you will find -

Handcrafted Bowed Psalteries

Accessories

Helpful Information

Pride in Workmanship and Service

Rick has been making bowed psalteries for the past 28 years. A love of music and woodworking began at an early age. At his fathers side, he became familiar with walnut, cherry, cedar and other native American woods. The projects they completed provided the skills required for creating the beautiful instruments you find here today. Quality and service are top priorities.

Please take a moment to browse the site. See the variety of figured woods used. Listen to the samples of Rick's recordings. Visit the workshop and see where these wonderful instruments are made.

We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.

Please use the word psaltery in the subject of your e-mail.

Updated on 5-9-2008

I have lots of new Soprano psalteries listed for you to look at. There is a sound clip link at each one. This way you can actually hear the tone of the bowed psaltery you are looking at.

Hello to all the nice folks I met at the TACA Craft Fair in

Nashville. I was able to introduce the bowed psaltery to many folks that had never seen or heard one. I commonly hear someone call them dulcimers when they first see them. The most common question I am asked is "What about the strings in the middle?", even after they stand there and watch me play a tune. I'm sure other bowed psaltery players have answered the same question. I guess it is hard to imagine an instrument having up to 30 strings and be able to play each string individually

using a bow.

I updated the FAQ page with a few items that I felt needed to be addressed.

My Events page has been updated with where you can find me this year.

One Tenor bowed psaltery is still available and ready to view.

I seem to keep falling behind on getting tenor psalteries to the web site. They sell before I can get them on here. I am going to concentrate on new tenor instruments in the next few weeks to get ahead. If you are waiting to see some please email me to add you to the list of folks to notify when I have some ready. This is a very popular psaltery because of the 2 1/2 octave range and extremely rich tone. Makes you say "wow" when you hear

or play one.

I added some tunes from a jam of a bowed psaltery and dulcimer playing together. These are on the How to Play page.

I offer Private Lessons on learning to play the bowed psaltery.

More videos on the How to Play Page

Photo by Robert Batey

Home Soprano Tenor Baritone Accessories Recordings How to Order

How to Play The Workshop Events FAQ Songs to Learn Private Lessons