The psamodicon (or psalmodikon), is a Scandinavian single stringed bowed instrument, the psalmodicon has a deep, thick string that can either be plucked on bowed with a special bow.
History[]
The inventor of the psalmodicon is debated, with it’s invention by Swedish lutheran priest, Johan Dillner, from Medelpad, but some notes say that Johan merely promoted the psalmodicon rather than inventing it. Dillner claimed he could teach anybody the instrument in 2 hours or less.
A psalmodicon with bow
Construction of the psalmodicon[]
The instrument is a long box, which had a chromatic fretboard on the top. Psalmodicons normally have 1-3 metal or gut strings, but more modern versions have nylon strings like a classical guitar. The instrument is about the size of a cello.
Playing instructions[]
To play the psalmodicon, you just have to set it on your lap, hold the bow in your hand, press down on the fretboard with your other hand, and that’s it, it’s that simple. If you wanna play it without the bow, you set it vertically on your lap like a guitar, and play it like a normal guitar, or you can play it like a steel guitar, set on your lap like normal, and plucking it with your finger instead of bowing it.