How to Play the Tagelharpa/Talharpa: Tuning Expansion, String Tension, and Scale Length

[@bluenovacorgi8230]

This is very helpful, great video!!

[@Skaldic_Works]

Thank you.

[@pedrosalguero5664]

im going to make one of these your videos are awesome

[@Skaldic_Works]

Thank you. I want to learn to make one myself. Unfortunately, I don't have the space where I live to put a full wood shop to make one of my own. So, I'm stuck with just buying mine until I can find a space and learn to build them myself.

[@LunaMoonfae]

Thank you so much for sharing ❤

[@Skaldic_Works]

You are so welcome!

[@emeraldrunar66]

Thanks a lot great info skal from Canada eh)

[@Skaldic_Works]

You're welcome and thank you. Hail to you back and apologies for responding so late. Been sick.

[@emeraldrunar66]

@@Skaldic_Works no worries enjoy yer vids eh

[@kimtoogood-hughes3143]

Please help! I have what is called Jouhikko but has flat bridge, so tagelharpa. Horse hair strings Dflat Aflat Dflat. Tuning. I cannot get a clear note, sounds scratchy and horrible. Plenty of rosin but not too much. This is truly a difficult instrument. What am I doing wrong? I've tried different tensions on bow, still sounds dreadful

[@Skaldic_Works]

Whether the bridge is flat or not had no difference in what the instrument is called. Jouhikko are smaller than the average tagelharpa and have a smaller hole, which gives you access to only 2 strings instead of all 3 on your noting hand. It is also usually tuned differently than a tagelharpa would be traditionally. Try rosin on the strings where you bow if you are using horsehair.. Pay also attention on where your bow is going and how it is tilted. If the bow isn't moving straight enough across the strings or you tild the bow stick to much then, it can affect the sound you get out of the instrume. Mostly, it takes time and practice to get a good sound out of it, especially if you don't have experience playing other bowed instruments.

[@kimtoogood-hughes3143]

@@Skaldic_Works Thank you. I was told Jouhikko has curved bridge. I stand corrected. The thickest string does not 'ring'. It sounds flat and dull abrasive. No resonance. Do broken strands of horsehair in the string make it dull? Maybe new strings are needed.

[@Skaldic_Works]

Broken strands don't have e an effect on resonance at all, however, I have personally observed the tone change in a string if you ad more twist to it. Mostly the thickest lowest string will have a rapier tone to it. Mine has this, but it's not designed for melody work and is more of a drone string.