I have three videos on how to tune it, but only one of them, this one -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6K8lZ6KoLeNsLc - uses notes to tune it, in particular AEB or GDA. Does this help?

@@mahanhaamin1170 If it looked exactly like mine with the same shaped peg box then it's a 4 stringed kemenche. If it looked the same but had a pegbox that looked like a violin's then it's probably a Cappadocian Kemane.

I don't use notes.

Sure thing. I'll let you know when I do the 2nd part. There's two tunes to do before this though. I'm considering doing private one on one online lessons for beginners. I've held off until now but I'm reconsidering. It would be free initially and then for a nominal fee. I will announce it if I do decide to go ahead.

@kemenchebasics Thank you! Also could you help me with this- so I have a lyra which strings are far away from each other so I can't push 2 chords at once. Do you think there is a way to fix it, or I have to buy a completely new Lyra? Appriciate your answer.

@@zylneakIdeally, the distance between each chord at the pegbox end should be around 11 millimetres. That's a gap of 5.5mm between each chord. Although that is the main thing affecting the distance between chords, the width of the 3 chords at the bridge also influences those gaps as you come down the instrument. The width at the bridge should be around 25mm. Can you tell me the measurements of those 2 points on your instrument?

@@kemenchebasics I couldn't really understand where the pegbox is but what I know for sure is the distance between 2 chords. It's almos 1 cm gap, and at the bridge the 3 strings make a 3 cm width. Will it help if I take a photo of these and swnd them to your e-mail?

1cm is too much. That would be why you can't touch two strings at once. Send me a photo of your instrument showing the top surface area of your instrument. You can fix this, either yourself, or you can take it to a luthier. Send me a photo first if you like.

Hi. I can't read notes and therefore don't use them. Does the following lesson help you? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJOkhYNrd8d5rdksi=q-w1e2KA_DRlqgMW

So true.

Thank you.

Thanks for the feedback, it means alot. Yes, my videos are aimed at non-Greek speakers so it's good to know you appreciate them. The music is indeed beautiful. Hopefully I can keep improving so I can get more out of the instrument.

You are right. Orman is a forrest. I took the spelling (Oraman) from a song on KZbin. which describes a beautiful village, which the singer says "was a dream." The song also mentions Rashia or mountains (Daglar in Turkish). Romeyika/Pontic is a beautiful dialect and we should do everything to preserve it. Here is the song if you want to listen to it. He mentions Oraman at 2:37 kzbin.info/www/bejne/e52ypXuuibmXrZYsi=2wBL9LQx9uqORAHZ

HI. Can you send me some photos first? I'd like to have a look. Some luthiers sell their instruments with bows that have either fishing line or a synthetic variant. Another possibility is that the soundpost may have dislodged too. Here's my email: [email protected]

@@UMBUBA Hi. It's tuned to AEB. Here's a video showing you how to tune it kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6K8lZ6KoLeNsLcsi=iLKZRDo0qUDPdAdS

Where do you live? Is there a Kemence luthier close to you?

Sure.

@@NAXOSTV10 Sure. I have one lesson to do before that though.

Ευχαριστώ πολυ για τα ωραία σου λόγια ❤

Thanks for your comment, I've corrected the title. I've based this lesson on a Greek rendition of the tune. That may explain the variation. I've just had a look at a few Turkish videos and yes, there are slight diffferences. Let me know when you upload your version and I'd be happy to take a look.

​@@kemenchebasicsi thought you took Stelios Kazantzidis as reference. That why i thought you were wrong in some parts. I will upload a video of his version

​@@kemenchebasicsi uploaded my version. Hope it helpa

@@hideare Yes, I referred to the Kazantizidis version which has differences.

Sure, I have 2 or 3 requests to do before this but I'll let you know.

Here is a lesson on the tune. I hope it helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aILJpIibp5hoeLM

Ok. I tried using sandpaper, which works a bit, but this old rosin is 30 yrs old, it's rock hard and beyond salvation

The easiest way would be to upload it to KZbin and select Private, not Public viewing. It then gives you an option to share it with individual email addresses privately. Let me know if you want to do it that way.

@@kemenchebasicssure, whats your email

@@kemenchebasicssure whats your email

I've only ever used steel core, but if you or anyone else has tried gut or synthetic, I'd be interested to know how they sound on a kemenche.

@@kemenchebasicsI ended up going with 2 D strings since the instrument im building is quite large to get a bit more bass from it. Do you have any advice with how high above the fingerboard the strings should sit?

@@flowerpetalpetrolfire The strngs should be as close to the fingerboard as possible at the peg box end. This helps with comfort and also playability. You can alter that by making deeper grooves in the little piece of wood ("ksilaki" we call it in Greek), at the peg box end of the FB which they sit on. The angle of the fingerboard should also be considered. If the height of the strings at the bridge for instance is 15mm, I would make the top of the FB at the bridge end, about 10mm.

Θα προσπαθησω. Μωλης το μαθω θα το ανεβασω.

Εδω ειναι το μαθημα για το τραγουδι αυτο: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eouneH2BoMxmfLc

I assume you mean Begledim de gelmedin? I don't know it but should be able to do it.

@@kemenchebasics yeah bekledim de gelmedin nice song so emotional thank you

HI there. Here is the lesson. Please leave a comment or a like if you find it helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4XGc52ifc2Jl7s

This is the main part of the tune. If someone wants more, they can ask nicely and I will try to do it.

It depends on the size of the instrument; ie, the width of the sound holes at the point where the bridge sits, and height of the fingerboard. For an "average" sized instrument, the bridge would be 25mm wide at the top and bottom. If you want the sides of the bridge at an angle you would go 30mm at the bottom and 25mm at the top. The soundboard hsa a slope so you would need to angle the bottom of the bridge so it sits flat onto the SB. You would open 3 tiny indentations (V-shaped) for the strings with an 11mm width each. The height would be about 15mm. It's usually made from the same wood as the soundboard.

@@kemenchebasicsThank you very much

Do you have any advice on how do do the bend of the lower part properly? Ie the hardwood thats at the bottom, idk how to get the curve exactly right, or is it forgiving with how the spruce top bends

@@flowerpetalpetrolfire Although the soundboard has a curve, it's ever so slight so use a file to give the bottom of the bridge a slight angle so that it sits flush to the soundboard. Don't forget to add a slight amgle to the top of the bridge otherwise you wont be able to play 2 chords at once. Do you want me to make a video detailing the bridge?

@@kemenchebasicsI mean the bottom part that you showed in your how to make a kemenche video, how do you get the curve on to that in order to get the soundboard to sit properly

I started the channel mainly to observe myself playing. It's also an excuse to pick it up and play it. For me it's a hobby that brings alot of joy. Music is great for one's mental health too. And yes there's definitely a shortage of teachers. As long as people are enjoying my channel and leaving positive comments I will keep making the videos. Even if it's a handul of people.

@@kemenchebasics Thank you, I appreciate your videos even though I don't comment on every one I always check them out, have definitely improved because of them.

Link?

@@kemenchebasics kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3LUm6GsiLl3mNUsi=LbbWDIgDQLSgXa21

Here is the lesson on Mavron Thalassa. To help me improve my channel, please let me know if's helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJi0ZWRvnsx9f80

Hi. There are only two that I know of but they are both in Greek. They are both called Η Λυρα του Ποντου. One is by Μιχαλης Καλιοντζιδης and the other by Παυλος Τσακαλιδης. The second one has more sheet music than the first one. Although they are in Greek, I assume sheet music can be understood regardless of language, right? Hopefully the links work. www.rihardos.gr/el/%CE%92%CE%99%CE%92%CE%9B%CE%99%CE%9F-%CE%9A%CE%91%CE%9B%CE%99%CE%9F%CE%9D%CE%A4%CE%96%CE%99%CE%94%CE%97%CE%A3-%CE%97-%CE%9B%CE%A5%CE%A1%CE%91-%CE%A4%CE%9F%CE%A5-%CE%A0%CE%9F%CE%9D%CE%A4%CE%9F%CE%A5-%CE%9F%CE%A1%CE%93%CE%91%CE%9D%CE%9F%CE%9B%CE%9F%CE%93%CE%99%CE%91-%CE%A4%CE%95%CE%A7%CE%9D%CE%99%CE%9A%CE%97%CE%A1%CE%95%CE%A0%CE%95%CE%A1%CE%A4%CE%9F%CE%A1%CE%99%CE%9F-%CE%A0%CE%92415.html www.politeianet.gr/books/tsakalidis-i-paulos-nto-re-mi-ekdoseis-i-lura-tou-pontou-309128

My father's side was from the Erbaa/Tokat region. I'm unsure as to my mother's side but possibly Giresun or Trabzon.

Tesekurler. Excellent, I will keep that in mind. You don't necessarily need to understand notes to learn the kemence. I will contiinue to keep things as simple as possible.

Hi. I've tried one on one, in person lessons, but found the whole exercise extremely inconvenient. Students are always arriving late or cancelling last minute. It really isn't worth it. I am considering private zoom lessons but at this stage I'm enjoying doing lesson-type videos online on YT for people to learn at their own pace. Ask me what you want and I'll make a video for you.

@@kemenchebasics No worries… thanks anyway. I just wanted to learn the notes first before learning songs. I play piano so I have a musical background. I don’t know if you’ve made a basic video like that already, but if you haven’t could you please. Cheers

The best video I have for an absolute beginner is the following one. Unfortunately I don't understand notes. The best tuning for a kemenche is AEB or GDA (high pitched to low pitched string), although there are others. Most of my lesson videos have links to other tutorial videos I've made on trembles, jumps, slurs etc: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXepmXqmZtdgfrMsi=z5azrqtxlyfJjfX_

@@kemenchebasics Ok thanks

All the best on your endeavour. It's alot of fun and you wil learn along the way. No, I don't have drawings but an idea would be to purchase a good instrument and use it to guide you with measurements. Perhaps the trickiest part is getting the correct slope on the body to allow the curved soundboard to rest on, and glue in place correctly.

@@kemenchebasics thank you for the response. We were lucky enough to find drawings and dimensions on line. We have been struggling to find mulberry and Ebony, though a local timberyard suggested Redgum or Tasmanian eucalyptus for the body, and Tasmanian King William pine for the face as both grow in snow and have a tight grain. Anyway. Thanks again!

Yes, the ideal hardwoods for kemenche generally aren't mass produced. You'll need to source it yourself. I found mulberry through a woodworking school and walnut from a farmer who cut down his own trees. I've used recycled ebony from an old violin fingerboard and used it to make tailpieces and the fingerboard itself. African Wenge is a good alternative. As for a soundboard, you could use Adirondack guitar soundboard or violin soundboard. I've used both.