Cornet- an instrument similar but slightly smaller than a trumpet.

Cymbal- a bronze or brass disk that was struck

Dulcimer- a bagpipe-like instrument usually having only two pipes

Flute- a pipe instrument very similar to our flute today

Gittith- a stringed instrument

Harp- a multi-stringed instrument the most popular being the three and ten stringed varieties. Jubal invented it, David mastered it, and it was the forerunner of our modern harpischord, clavier, and piano.

Organ- a multi-piped instrument

Pipe- usually an instrument played by blowing across. “pipe” usually refers to an instrument capable of playing only a few notes.

Psaltery- a harp variation

Sackbut- a specially constructed harp, another harp variation

Tabret- a timbrel variation

Timbrel- a tambourine

Trumpet- very similar to our instrument today but probably without the valves

Viol- an instrument very similar to a lyre (which later developed into our guitar), a stringed instrument.

The Scripture records Jubal (Gen 4:21), David (I Chron 3:25, II Chron 7:6, II Chron 29:26, Amos 6:5), and Solomon (I Kings 10:12, II Chor 9:11, Ecc 2:8) all made, invented and sanctioned musical instruments.

The English translations of the Book of Psalms that we have today omit musical terms and instructions found at the beginning of each song in the original Hebrew.

Here is a list of some common musical terms and instructions found both in scripture itself or in the original titles of the Psalms. (If the word is found in the title of the reference psalm and not the song itself then an “*” is used)

Alamoth- song was to be sung by high females (sopranos) I Chr 15:20,

Ps 46*

Higgaion- play in a manner to promote devout meditation, ie.. softly and mellow. Ps 92:3 “solemn” in English

Micahtam- in a precious manner, ie.. sincerely. Ps 16*, Ps 56*, Ps 57*, Ps 58*, Ps 59*, Ps 60*.

Muth Labben- song was to be sung by young boys. Ps 9*

Neginah or Neginoth- to be accompanied by stringed instruments especially harps. Hab 3:19 “stringed instruments” in English, Ps 4*, Ps 54*, Ps 55*, Ps 61*, Ps 67*

Nehiloth- to be accompanied by wind instruments. Ps 5*

Selah- probably a musical solo period where the musicians played without vocals. Very common in scripture. (Too many references to list here some are Ps 3, Ps 32, Ps 66)

Sheminith- literally “eighth”, in music indicates what pitch the song was to be sung in. ie.. how high or low the song was to be sung. Ps 6*, Ps 12*

Shiggaion- to be perfomed as directed by director. Ps 7*

Shoshannim or Shushan Eduth- indicates style of song. sometimes translated as “ “hetachorda” which means to be accompanied by 6 stringed instruments.