Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 33:2

"Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings." — Psalms 33:2 (ASV)

Harp. —Hebrew, khinnôr (Septuagint and Vulgate, “cithara”), most probably a trigon or three-cornered harp, such as may be seen sculptured in Egyptian bas-reliefs. The number of strings probably varied, as different accounts are given. (See Bible Educator, 1:19.)

With the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. —Properly, as Septuagint and Vulgate, “with the ten-stringed psaltery.” (See 1 Samuel 10:5). Evidently a more elaborate instrument than the khinnôr, and with greater capacities. (See Bible Educator, 1:70, and the article “Psaltery” in Smith’s Biblical Dictionary.) From the Greek psalterion comes the title “psalter” for the Book of Psalms. By its derivation it meant an instrument played with the fingers. The word was in use in older English:

“And before them went many minstrels,
As harps, pipes, lutes, and sautry.”

CHAUCER: The Flower and the Leaf, 237.