The technique and tuning I used were taught to me by Lassi Logren. As far as I understand, this is reasonably standard for Finnish playing (with the note that nothing is truly standard with these instruments). I tune EAD. The E is closest to the bowing hand, the D is furthest away, the A is in the middle. The A is the lowest note, the D is a 4th above, and the E is one step higher. When playing, the A always gets played as a drone (more advanced playing does play melody notes on this string, but I only have two tunes I play that involve notes on the A string). So, the first note of my scale is D (with droning A). The second note is E (still with droning A). Both of those are just open strings. I touch the E string with my index finger to get the F or F# note. Middle finger for G, ring finger for A, pinkie for B. If I need higher notes, I can move my hand closer to the bridge and get higher notes. I seldom do this because a lot of jouhikko repertoire only uses 6 notes. Or fewer. If you look at the repertoire for 5 string kantele, you only need 5 notes and there's a wealth of music available. I highly recommend a teacher, at least for a first few lessons. Lassi made all the difference for me. I'm no expert, but the fact that I can play at all is because he taught me how.

Good question. With 4 pound, I think I would have used maybe 20-25% more strands. It is 2/3 the strength, but pretty close in size. My understanding is limited, as I'm just a hobbyist, but greater mass helps to make a string lower in pitch. Hence wound strings for low pitches on most stringed instruments. Other than making them thicker, I don't know how I'd get the mass. I've heard of people making their own wound strings, but I don't know how it is done. Sorry I'm not much help.

I play my soprano with the same tuning. I love the alto for being a bit lower, but I find the soprano a bit more comfortable to play. I'm glad it was useful to you!

Years ago, I read about a barony that had a standard pattern set for getting new folks armored. The helm was essentially this one, but with no rivets, only welding. Supposedly, it was a matter of bending the main piece into an oval hoop, welding up the back, tracing around the top, cutting it out with a little overlap, welding the top on, then grinding down the uglies. Not a pretty helm, but a fast way to get folks fighting.

It really is important to twist them. That's what turns the bundle of fibers into a single sounding string.

I tried a bow with fishline instead of hair once. It just didn't hold the rosin, so it slipped on the strings. Nothing seems to work as well as real hair. Sorry I don't have a good alternative.

@@patrickwoolery6000 i tried the same yesterday but befor i rub the fishingline with sandpaper to roughen it. Its not perfekt but somehow it works now.

You've never seen one of those before? They're rocking recliners. My grandma had one that also had a massage function in it.

I did. It took me close to a decade from start to finish, but would have taken less than a week if I'd just done it in my evenings and weekend. I just get distracted by other projects sometimes!

It was the first free app that showed up when I checked the app store. I think it is called InsTuner.

Both of them are inspirations for me. I don't claim to be any kind of expert. I'm sharing one of my builds is all. I think this was my fourth and I'm now working on my twelfth (but didn't document it with video, I'm afraid). Rauno Nieminen deserves tremendous credit as a builder, but much more for being so much a part of reviving an instrument that was almost unknown outside a very small circle of people.

The pegs are like violin pegs. A tapered peg in a tapered hole can hold a string better than you'd think. There's a wider part at the back of the peg, like a paddle, that allows me to grip and get it tuned up to the pitch I want.

holvi.com/shop/Raunonieminen/product/75f9ea9b885f2c743f494abbe82759b9/

It was a fun build. The cigar box was so pretty, I just had to make something cool from it. I was very pleasantly surprised by the tone, to be honest.

cool cool @@patrickwoolery6000

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

There wasn't much calculation going on. I had the cigar box and I knew I wanted the bridge to be about 13-14 inches from the tuning pegs. I just figured everything out as I went along. This actually took me longer than making an instrument from scratch. I thought the box would make it faster, but having to figure it all out and work around the shape of a cigar box make it harder, not easier. It was a fun project, but one that I doubt I'll ever do again. Using solid woods allows for making a better sounding and better feeling instrument. I'm sorry I can't really give you any helpful hints, here.

It was a fun project. Glad you enjoyed it!

That's good advice. I tend to feel comfortable with certain tools, but you are absolutely right to remind me because it is normally the tool that seems like a friend that actually ends up causing injuries.

@@patrickwoolery6000 also you should add a riving knife to the table saw to prevent kickbacks (i'm not shure it just lookjs like ther might be none) would a be a shame if such an excelennt crafter looses fingers

@@chrisvaupel It is my dad's saw. I just borrowed it for part of this project. I agree that I don't want to lose fingers.

Thanks. You are likely right. And I appreciate the compliment.

I highly recommend doing so!

Thanks! This is not my first, but it is my best. So far.

@@patrickwoolery6000 cool cool