Psalmodicon

Beginning in the early 19th century, it was adopted by many rural churches in Scandinavia; later, immigrants brought the instrument to the United States.

Over a sawtooth shaped fret board, it originally had three metal strings, of which two were removed to facilitate the learning process.

Notable players of the instrument include Ole H. Bremnes, Salmodikon, Forlaget Habet in 1998 (in Norwegian), and Ardith K. Melloh from the Swedish Pioneer Historical Quarterly who wrote a book called "Grandfather's Songbook; Or, The Psalmodikon in America" in October 1981.

[1]: 19  In the 1830s and 1840s, the Norwegian music educator Lars Roverud traveled widely in Norway popularising the instrument for training students and congregations in singing.

[1]: 19 The instrument is also known in Lithuania as manikarka or in Latvia as vienstīdzis or manihorka; a two-string variant developed within Latvian folk music, and became the ģīga or divstīdzis.