The psaltery has its origin in ancient Greece as a sharp-like instrument. It was originally played using fingers instead of plucking with plectrums. Psalteries vary slightly from one place of origin to the other. Some can be traced back to Europe while others were used in the medieval age. In these regions, there are slight variations in design and name.

The bible records instances where the psaltery has been used to translate and pronounce new or foreign words. This was especially useful to kings and orators so that they could get these words correctly. The instances are recorded in Daniel, Psalms, Kings, Samuel and Chronicles. The instrument would be used to give the right pitch during pronunciation.

The psaltery consists of a sound board and several strings attached uniformly at an angle. These strings are pre-tuned and produce the desired sound when plucked. Its small size makes it portable to be used in different locations. The uses vary from one person or society to the other. Differences in sizes make the range or pitch of various instruments to vary.

Psaltery had a special position in the medieval age. This is explained by the fact that the instrument was a common feature in most paintings and theatrical performances. It was common to find scripted sections in manuscripts. Entertainment in palaces would not be complete without the instrument.

The modern psaltery appeared in the 19th century with slight variations from the original design. Its format is triangular such that the portions of each string are bowed at the end. This has not eliminated the original design completely. Traditional psaltery is still being used in its original form among different societies.

The bowed psaltery, also referred to as the zither is modified slightly and comes with a playing bow. This is unlike the original design which was played using fingers. The new model has chromatically arranged strings. It produces standard tunes when bowed.

The modern triangular design ensures that each string extends a few centimeters more than the previous. This has allowed the chromatic design to be enhanced as well as factor in the element of sharps and flats in music. The origin determines other intricate features of the design. The violin bow has been popularized by commercialization.

Individual players adopt unique playing styles depending on the music of specialization. This has seen differences in sounds across performances. The small size allows it to be held on one hand as the player bows with the other. Additional tone comes from finger strumming.

The design might not allow conventional finger plucking because the strings are too close together. This leaves the player with the option of plucking at the end. Sound is amplified by the soundbox with special holes to allow penetration of sound from the strings.

Individuals personalize their instruments through coloring without affecting sound production or quality. Experts in bowing can use two bows in order to achieve double stopping. The quality and pitch of produced sound depend on how tight a bow is, among other factors. The instrument produces beautiful acoustic sound.