Building a Tagelharpa (Talharpa, Jouhikko)

[@zet421]

It's 5am, I haven't slept yet and I really need to know how to build hagelharpa, because just few hours ago, I've found out that this instrument exists, and I can't stop thinking about it.

[@xander1121]

im doing the exact same thing its 5:27 in the morning, im sick, my eyes are burning, im blowing my nose like crazy, i have to pee but the videos have me hooked... screw this im going to bed

[@OriginalFallofMind]

Been there. 😂

[@OriginalFallofMind]

Little advice, use a piece of solid wood, a good quality soundboard and real strings. Made all the difference.

[@ragohwhiteclaw7462]

It's 12:18 PM, and I've known about the talharpa for a long time. Now that I know the lyrics to a lot of Wardruna's songs, I really need one so I can start playing them as well!

[@trialbyfire7112]

one of the most honest DIY videos I've ever seen

[@Turbopress2882]

I was a professional Luthier for a time, and have been a woodworker for 2/3rds+ of my life. I've built a Tagelharpa and a Jouhikko before. While there were times that you used tools "wrong", or didn't follow steps in the "right" order... I think this is a prime example of the most important aspect of woodwork: having fun figuring things out. Many woodworkers can get stuffy over the idea of fOlLoWiNg tHe sTePs, and dOiNg tHinGs tHe rIgHt wAy, but the truth of things is that the best part of working with wood is solving problems that will always come up, like the headstock coming off when you just glued it. And the best part? It looks great and sounds great. Clearly you're happy with it and THAT'S what matters. I really enjoyed watching this and it makes me want to make another Tagelharpa.

[@strawberrypillz2160]

I absolutely love that you've included all those mistakes and that semi-amateur bits. It gave me hope that maybe i can try someday to make it myself! ❤️

[@barefootarts737]

The fear of making mistakes..... All the builders overcame it. One of the most charming things to me about this instrument is its crudeness. Just enough rigor in the build to make a sound. And the rest is left to a persons courageous heart and their concentration.

[@алекссмердов]

Год прошёл. Движения есть?

[@SanctusDraco]

Feels like your soul from an ancient scandinavian just rebuilt his old instrument. Your first jam felt like a hit from the past at some point.❤

[@matthewwebb9447]

It's great you left the mistakes in as it is the most important tool for learning. Yo many tutorials don't tell you what not to do so you can't tell

[@TheWooTubes]

'Because my obsessions change', I learned that when yew is used for bows, it is split before shaping because the internal and external wood are good at either compression or stress and I think the bow should put some tension on the horse-hair. I think you've probably encouraged more people to have a go than the people who know exactly what they're doing :-). I learned a few days ago that violins have a saddle. It might be worth having a look before the next one.

[@J_to_the_F]

The sound is great! It´s really dark and I can imagine it well in nordic music. I just realized how used I gut to having a more advanced set of tools and access to some big machines when I need it. And with this uncommon way of working I had to think back on a guy who had fixed a broken guitar with tape and wires. He told me that the purpose of a guitar is to sound good and not to look good ore to express fine craftsmenship and I had to agree. Thinking back this was and still is my way of learning. I have an aim and I start with what I have. There is no wrong way. Thank you for sharing and I hope I can help with some more projects in the future.

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

Thanks again for offering me advice! i am really happy with the sound and had a lot of fun making it. You'll have to let me know how your projects go!

[@barefootarts737]

When building for sound, stains and pigments are detractors. For tonality, no coating is best, 2nd- Shellac flakes mixed in alcohol is a very common luthier go-to. And easy to use. Regarding fine craftsmanship, There is a saying in the Shamanic community that goes something like this: "How do you know that the tool you made has power? It depends on how ugly it looks"

[@designator7402]

I want to extend a deep and heartfelt thank you for leaving in all the mistakes, including the, in retrospect, stupid ones in the edit. Not only did it give me the occasional chuckle when you went over things that I have learned the hard way in the past as well, but it makes me feel less bad about screwing up stuff myself. Also I will absolutely build one of these suckers.

[@VedunianCraft]

I'm glad more and more people find access to bowed lyres and build them in all sorts of shapes with different techniques! If you allow me a little tip: I never fit horse hair through holes in my pegs --> instead of holes I cut in vertical slots. Also I soak my horse hair in warm water for about 20min. They don't break that easily and tend to hold the tuning better (if you're going to change them in the future!) Didn't want to intrude, just couldn't resist ;)!

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

Thanks for the tip! much appreciated, yes i definitely made it alot harder on myself, was a lot of effort getting them to fit. Thanks for taking the time for watching my video too!

[@MarcusWarnerMusic]

Turned out excellently. Well done my friend :)

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

Thought i would pin this here as a lot of people are asking about my measurements of the Tagelharpa, Thanks so much for 5k views everyone. i made my Tagelharpa about 90cm hight with the body being about 40cm, the depth was 10cm with a width of about 30cm. My soundboard was spruce at about 0.8cm, ive heard the best thickness for a soundboard is 0.6-0.9....although a soundpost is very important at the thinner end of things so the soundboard doesnt splite under the bridge. My horsehair strings where kinda a guess, the thickness one was maybe 30 hairs with the other higher ones being around 20-25, black horsehair supposedly has a slightly richer tone but im not sure how that is the case. the distance on the strings was about a finger length apart, as i assumed that would give me enough access to the strings to play, which it did for me. If anyone had anymore questions please let me know and ill try my best to get back to you! Ill be continuing this instrument build series as i really enjoy it (my newest video is me tackling building two octave anglo saxon lyre) i also love using my instruments in my fantasy orchestral music. All the best everyone, cant wait to show you all ive been working on this year with music -Aiden

[@CampingforCool41]

I love that you really didn’t know what you were doing akgsgk it makes me feel like maybe I can make one too

[@dracodistortion9447]

are all Brits naturally talented at KZbin? great video

[@hrlarson]

This brought tears to my eyes. The sound and looks are excellent, but the journey there is what really brought me joy.

[@PineMountainMusician]

Thank you so much. Me and my dad are planning on building one, although ours will be deeper and the size of either the tagelharpa gran bassa or the tagelharpa cello used by A Tergo Lupi, and I needed a video to use as I’m very new to woodworking in general, let alone luthier work

[@suemacias667]

Love the honesty nand humor here and so familiar, but fun!

[@Just_Call_Me_Tim]

Your commentary (and all the snark) earned you a subscription. Take it and enjoy, you "gonna go randomly build this thing probably no one realizes I've thought about more than once" fiend.

[@TomTasker]

well Mr Appleton i have to say i absolutely loved this video!

[@musicwithten]

Great video. I'm in the process of making my own talharpa. I too have a family member with an entire basement of tools. I'm building mine differently. I had these 2 nice 8in x 72inx 3/4in pieces of red oak. I cut them in half and now i have a 4 in thick 8"x36" rectangle. I cut out holes on 3 of them and the 4th I routered into it about 1/2in leaving a 1/4in back. Next, I'm going to glue those 4 pieces together. Then I have this 2-tone cherry and oak for the front of it!!! aaaaahhhhh it's going to be AMAZING!!

[@TheBlueCaterpillarStudio]

Love it…well done it sounds amazing

[@integratedalchemist]

As soon as you turned around I knew this would be good

[@MissGroves]

Maybe adding rosin to the horsehair before twisting might help it behave better? I'm making one of these by carving into a block instead of a frame construction

[@utubeape]

Epic video, the sound must have been amazing not knowing exactly what you would end up with. I bet it would be even better if you were busking in a tube station with good reverb

[@jeremymoore1746]

That playing probably awoke all sorts of Teutonic monsters.

[@Bullski123]

Love that sound,so deep and dark and its nice looking,and the looks dont matter as much as when it sounds epic,right?

[@MidnightAmbassador]

This is genuinely an amazing video!

[@LucyLightHernandez]

Hi, I really enjoyed your video. The outcome is amazing. I like your instrument and it is a fun sound, very nice!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴🤩

[@lordvash9]

The wood worker in me is crying... but I'm glad u took on this project and u stuck to it! So good on u!

[@Regressor13]

We have a very similar process and approach to measurements :D Love the vid man, hoping to see more builds!

[@stefance1]

You have to stretch the strings of the bow with most of the fingers from your right hand, to hold it right and have a tighter string and more beautiful sound

[@newdawnrecordings]

Great work! I am going to have to try and make some of these type of instruments 🙂☀️

[@TheBeardx16]

Fair play to you man for having a go.

[@scillyautomatic]

You have my total respect for admitting your struggle in cutting down the back of your Tagelharpa!

[@TheTurinturumbar]

Loved it. Looks and sounds good.

[@dylansmith9475]

Awesome video mate, just a quick safety thing for 2:45 but it’s actually best to let the saw fully stop before lifting it out of the wood as it can get caught and flick the wood up

[@GoblinArmyInYourWalls]

The irony of making an instrument, then using music made by a completely different instrument

[@dekoningtan]

That's pretty awesome dude.

[@Ragnar_Freysson]

You are an entertaining guyperson. It is a great instrument- I am currently waiting for my own to arrive. Wish you lots of fun playing it mate!

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

It sounds really angry. You can count that as a win.

[@breakingeggnews9138]

I nearly cried at the end... It sounds as it looks!

[@magnusnordic1648]

Please help me! Sadly, the string leg (bridge) is cracked along its lenght on my own tagelharpa. ☹️ Can you help me where I can order spare parts (new bridge)? I don't know anyone who can make them. ☹️

[@bluenovacorgi8230]

This is really amazing , i cant wait to build one of these !!!

[@MrZeroTerrorRide]

Sounds pretty good

[@Theilun]

This just made me so incredibly happy. I have no idea why.

[@ChrisLeeW00]

Try some rosin on the bow, you might get a more steady sound out of it.

[@86Vash]

Amazing work! Could you tell me where to buy horse hair? Thank you

[@nataliesirnova6865]

Прекрасное видео, спасибо! Теперь не страшно построить самой)

[@jimm1387]

I think it turned out nice. As far as your woodworking skills, they're fine. We all have to start somewhere.

[@UrAnxiety]

My sister found this instrument and i decided ill make one for Christmas for her

[@nemocheerio]

This is hilarious! Great video. Cool instrument too.

[@Pagan3163]

Can you please explain how one drills "free" holes?

[@barrythird3297]

Wanna have this instrument 😊😊😊

[@OleksandrKolyvushko]

Happy you have not injured your self /pat

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

/cheer

[@ValdiValdies]

Holy crap, it sounds just the way I would want it to sound.

[@ronsindric4241]

I like ! Some humble suggestions though; things I learned through trial, error and lots of " mitsakes" ! Instead of screws, use hardwood dowels and high-strength, slow-settjng water based adhesive. Slow-set so the adhesive has time to sink into the fibers of the wood to build a stronger bond. If you use screws, make sure they are STAINLESS STEEL, deeeep counter-sink them and cover over the sunken screws with matching and tight-fitting wood plugs. Oh, ALWAYS clamp the heck out of EVERYTHING in your builds. Lastly ----》 SAFETY GOGGLES ?

[@Dangermind88]

Great, now i want to make one too

[@wolvencreator8585]

WHAT A SOUND!!! 🥰

[@nicholasmatheson1235]

Absofuckinglutly perfection. Best film on the tube thus far.

[@basilicauk]

Informative and funny, thanks

[@joelhernstrom6060]

The fact he’s holding the chisel the wrong way round when shaving the bark of the bow makes my eyes bleed. Also the super loud buzzing sound you get from playing is air leaking out of the not at all airtight soundbox. The metal screws also fucked up the resonance

[@amsimp7636]

Wonderful video! Your using power tools makes me nervous though

[@danilgeim7588]

What diameter and thickness the strings should be And how long they are. You would have helped a lot if you had answered Under the line A. E. B

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

I made a pin post as a few people have asked me, but i copied and pasted it below for you. My horsehair strings where kinda a guess, the thickness one was maybe 30 hairs with the other higher ones being around 20-25, black horsehair supposedly has a slightly richer tone but im not sure how that is the case. the distance on the strings was about a finger length apart, as i assumed that would give me enough access to the strings to play, which it did for me.

[@pommeswerfer6973]

Just to chime in, the sparks inside the engine of that chopsaw are normal,. I own a drill which does the same, it's related to the brushes inside the motor. It usually happens on older engines, as the brushes wear the contact time betvenn them and the parts which are live get shorter and thus, they produce sparks when they swtich contacts. Impressive build, guess I'll have to try that on my own. Lockdown Project Nr.2 lets go.

[@cloroxusthestainlessone4324]

It's generally safe unless you smell burning and see smoke. We used to get DeWalt drills returned because it was sparking inside, 9/10 it was a non issue

[@linannkivi1]

how is the tune of this harpa ?

[@rumpires6485]

Well intentioned, but you have a lot to learn. Nest regards. Keep the good work.

[@woutervanasseldonk8600]

Do you have any more information on the strings specifically? Did you get them somewhere, did you make them yourself? I hear people talking about horsehair strings, my taglharpa has nylon ( which I also cannot find anywhere) I'd like to replace them sometime with horsehair strings but I cannot find any source of how to get them anywhere.

[@fugischo]

all i hear when you speak is gnome gnome gnome :) cool video aiden

[@rafesorm646]

Прикольный скворечник получился и так хорошо басит. Вери найс!)

[@paintguyjones4781]

WOW, what an AMAZING sound!! I am in the planning / parts gathering stages of building mine. Can you give some measurements for yours, Length, width, depth etc? Also, how many hairs did you use for each string and what thickness is your top soundboard? Thank you in advance, new supporter!!

[@PourMeAnother]

Yes, I agree!! I am also interested in building a Tagelharpa and would love the same information!! New supporter as well!!👍👍👍

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

Hey bud, thanks for taking the time to watch my vids and music! really appreciate it. i made mine about 90cm with the body being about 40cm, the depth was 10cm with a width of about 30cm. My soundboard was spruce at about 0.8cm, ive heard the best thickness for a soundboard is 0.6-0.9....although a soundpost is very important at the thinner end of things so the soundboard doesnt splite under the bridge. My horsehair strings where kinda a guess, the thickess one was mabye 30 hairs with the other higher ones being around 20-25. all the best with your build, and hope you enjoy future vids and music!

[@PourMeAnother]

Wow, thank you so much!! That hepls a lot!! I really enjoyed your video. I hope to dtart my build next week, waiting on the sounboard material to arrive. Thanks again. I hope to see some more of your videos soon!

[@Rubicon904]

Id give this a chance as to buy one cost half a grand, and I'm not even sure the quality would be that great for that price

[@homedone_math3.14]

People: What a nice day today, isn't it? Me: 0:07 🤣

[@MikeVanRose]

So cool, when is the sample pack coming out? :) "Aidenian Harp - sample pack vol.1"

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

I'm trademarking that name.....

[@Cael2x]

What strings do you use? Can you give me the parameters?

[@musicwithten]

they spark. it's a brushed motor not a brushless

[@oddmustelid4339]

How much did it cost to make this?

[@blitztrip3427]

Hilarious :D I love it!!!

[@brendanm6921]

Much better quality than the one I've built, mate. Did you make a bass bar for it? It works with the sound post to make the sound more full and resonant. If you didn't then I recommend thinking about it for future builds.

[@VikingoCelta]

Estupendo 👌 Saludos de un Uruguayo 🇺🇾🧉

[@edixasanchezpacheco3692]

What are the measurements?

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

I made a pin post as a few people have asked me, but i copied and pasted it below for you. I made my Tagelharpa about 90cm hight with the body being about 40cm, the depth was 10cm with a width of about 30cm. My soundboard was spruce at about 0.8cm, ive heard the best thickness for a soundboard is 0.6-0.9....although a soundpost is very important at the thinner end of things so the soundboard doesnt splite under the bridge. My horsehair strings where kinda a guess, the thickness one was maybe 30 hairs with the other higher ones being around 20-25, black horsehair supposedly has a slightly richer tone but im not sure how that is the case. the distance on the strings was about a finger length apart, as i assumed that would give me enough access to the strings to play, which it did for me.

[@davidorr6627]

That was almost as much fun as watching my 12 year old son trying to mow a straight line on my lawn.

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

i havent quite got that down either ....

[@StevDoesBigJumps]

Sounds like it'll be good for polish children's music

[@Varg580]

How big are the pegs?

[@Varg580]

Bro I got inspired 4 months ago and I made it ⚒️

[@sagafun8954]

How loud is the instrument? Is it as loud as a violin louder or quieter? (Like violin about 80db)

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

Its a little quitier , as most bass instruments tend to struggle to get the volume up from what ive found.

[@buzzybeekeeper9103]

This video made me laugh about your comments, love it 👍🏻

[@DantescoDisonante]

Nice work. How much space between the holes for the strings you left?? I’m starting my own too

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

I roughly drilled the tuning peg holes about 2 fingers width wide, i thought that would leave enough room for my hand, which it did, although mine was very much a educated guess, good luck with yours mate!

[@matimus100]

That's what you get if you believe in the Supernatural! No results ...only Science and skill and hard work got you there. Well done

[@rumeunner3245]

The glue you should use, and only ever use for instrument making is Titebond glue. It binds like a motherf*****.

[@deltacx1059]

2:46 that's normal.

[@Hesher93]

Nice Video! I am going to do a Tagelharpa myself in the next days, but am still unsure about how big I should make it. What measurements does your Tagelharpa have?

[@AidenAppletonMusic]

I made my tagelharpa just under a meter long from top to bottom, 93cm roughly...from what I can gather though I did make mine alot larger than they normally are, it's 30cm wide, I'm a fan of the darker and much bassier tone... although I am considering making a smaller higher pitched one, they work well for the more dance type stuff. I'd be really interested in hearing how your tagelharpa turned out, what wood are you using, keep me updated and thanks for checking out my video/music 😊

[@ExBerian]

@@AidenAppletonMusic how deep is it as well as how deep the inner chamber is?

[@bearshield7138]

hard trip but nice job

[@OriginalFallofMind]

Solid wood body it the key.

[@helder4u]

fun

[@mr-x7689]

The A in "Tagel" is pronounced as the A in "Andromeda", other than that you pronounced the rest correctly.

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Spooky

[@str44thond71]

it pains me to watch this, good job lad

[@hambone950]

next time with your sides, glue then staple

[@desmondallred331]

“Stupid bridge”

[@jimmy12347654]

Exotic measurements 😅

[@void-if-scratchediii250]

🙈