Learning how to play Tagelharpa | Basic tuning tips and tricks 

Thanks for the support! All tips are welcome.

It's like a Floyd rose tremolo system. Only time I hate tuning. But yes start with the lower pitched string or thickest gauge and work your way down or up

Also, it might be better to tune the middle string first.

@@MrBluelightning024 Interesting, how come?

@@JimWisecrack94 everytime you press on the other string to cleanly play the middle string you stretch it out of tune by tuning the middle string first you avoid that

You're welcome. I'm about to make a new tuning video in some months, as this video is old already and my skills have improved. New video will show more different examples and tunes.

@@MoritzMagicMusic 😃 I have a 4 string tagelharpa and use titan cellostrings ... 😒 ´The sound is not so sensitive. Now I wanna try the horsehair. An maybe I have to built a 3 String Tagelharpa. I´m sure, we will read us again. 🤗

Thanks for the tips!

Thank you!

Thanks for the extensive and clear explanation! I'll keep this in mind the next time I'll tune the instrument.

@@MoritzMagicMusic Another piece of advice that I recieved from Nicolas de Vents over at Crossroads music, where I got my tagelharpa from, is if the main tuning pegs are slipping too much, rub them with chalk, and if they are sticking too much, rub them with soap.

@@Skaldic_Works Thanks!

You're welcome! At the moment I'm working on a tutorial video about how you can make a working, good sounding tagelharpa from a cardboard box. The video isn't finished yet, as I'm still painting this cardboard model to make it look like a real, hardwood tagelharpa. So stay tuned and get inspired!

Thanks for mentioning. And thanks for new tuning examples. I'll try them. You've got any experience with Bass Tagelharpa? I've ordered one. Have to figure out what's a good tuning for this instrument.

@@MoritzMagicMusic To find the right sound/tuning varies a bit from instrument to instrument,u just have to experiment on it,try different tunings.Not too high or too low.And the bass taglharpa i have no experience with,but i do intend to draw and build one later on,since i build all the instruments myself. By the way i have some clips of some of my instruments on my tube page.

It's really worth the journey! It takes some time to master the instrument, but at the day you get to this point, it really ads an epic twist to the not so epic world we're all living in!

Thank you!

You're welcome! The micro tuners are a modern addition to this ancient instrument. So people in the old days didn't have them. But these micro tuners make everything so much easier. Horse hair gets out of tune way easier compared to newer materials. As you might have found out yourself. A little twist on the tuning pegs can make a string sound completely different. Resulting in having a nice tuning session, instead of a jamming session! So these micro tuners, they help you out when you're almost there, getting close to the sound you want (or if it gets out of tune after some playing). And as I learned already, if one get's broken (I broke one....), you can simply order them online. I spend about, I guess, €0,65 a piece. So Bought myself 6 for in case it happens again. I guess that because it's a modern addition, no-one mentions it. The old ways used to be harder.

@@MoritzMagicMusic and i'm back - and your method of tuning makes sense and demonstrates patience. i had some troubles building and had to alter (and take apart another antique - ) to re-make-fix my Tagel harp - now ready to string and tune. i hope i can pick up the use of the bow easily - - - after some of the "moments ;' of me yelling in the house - i don't think this is happening!! haha - oi. I do actually plan to make another - a big one and i thing i will get the micro turners for that - - -i wonder about that tuner that shows the hertz measure - mine don't

and then she said - - got it all turned up - used guitar strings and it sounds pretty good - used your turning - think i'm gonna go a step lower

​@@333ErianaI nowadays use another tuning. My instrument maker advised me to tune to C3-F3-C4, so as a starter, I took his advice. I now have more tuning skills. Now I use G2(99Hz), A2(110Hz), G3(198Hz). Sounds way lower and it fits together with my even lower Bass tagelharpa. My Bass is tuned in C2(66Hz), A2(110Hz), C3(132Hz) So now I can use both Tagelharpa's for duet songs. I'm using these tunings in one of my new songs I'm working on. The song will be called something like 'King's Honor'. It's not ready yet. Need to write lyrics, I need to record drums and atmospheric effects. And I need to send the lyrics to my female singer. So it might take a month or 2 I guess till it's finished. The microtuners really make tuning way easier. I notice that when I try to only use the main pegs. The tuners sometimes jump with 20 Hz when you make a short move. This 20Hz can be a problem, you sometimes can't reach the correct tune and keep stuck between 80Hz and 100Hz. The microtuners make it possible to correct with 1/5Hz for example. So I try to get close to the tune I want. And when I get in a radius of 10Hz too high or low, I use the microtuners to get it correct. And what somebody else mentioned some months ago. Start with the lowest string first. This string messes up the other strings the most while tuning. Starting with this one (the outer string), makes tuning faster. As you do not have to redo the tuning over and over again. Do you use the tuning app I mentioned? Mine still shows the Hz. You added guitar strings to the Tagelharpa? Acoustic I guess? Or metal? What material of strings is on your bow?

@@MoritzMagicMusic hi there - cool thanks so much - i actually started with D2 G2 D3 - didn't like the sound of the high string really - tonight i had to fix my bridge a bit - so i had to lossen that string -and put it to C3 - - -I know many say that you are to have two string the same , but i really love the sound.

Hello, what would you like to see? I can see if I can put something together. What are the things you really struggle with right now?

@@MoritzMagicMusic hi, some people have the bow in the right hand, talharpa on the left, other people the other way round, is there a right and a wrong way? Also no one says if playing is more by feel or if they want to play a tune they learn sheet music or if they just experiment.

@@MissGroves Hello, you play the bow in the right hand if you're right handed. You play the bow in the left hand if you're left handed. In case you're left handed, then you have to do the tuning mirrored compared to a right-handed tagelharpa. It depends on what feels best for you. I am ambidextrous. So I play the tagelharpa as a right handed person and I play jew's harp as a left handed person. You should first try to get a nice sounding tune after tuning it. So try to tune it first (tuning doesn't have to be 100% correct, it's difficult to learn, you'll get more correct after practice). Try to practice scales on the first string. Don't worry if you can't find the whole scale. Not all instruments have the same range. There are not many sheet music samples for the tagelharpa. There are some and there is a collection of them in the book called 'The Bowed Lyre, Jouhikko' by writer Rauna Nieminen. You can find this book online from a store in Finland. It only shows the sheet samples (and it has a cd where these samples are played). But it doesn't show you how to play these on the instrument. So you would actually need to be able to read sheets. And then listen to the cd and recognise the scales by hearing. And then try to imitate this. Well the tagelharpa used to be an instrument for improvisation. It was a lower class instrument from medieval times. I guess the early players weren't able to read at all, as this was a higher class luxury during these times. That's probably why there is a lack in music sheets, no-one wrote them down in masses. Only some did.

@@MoritzMagicMusic thank you so much, very very helpful! And I only know it was a medieval instrument, no history or how common it was, so you have filled in my knowledge, thank you. 🇬🇧

@@MissGroves You're welcome. Sharing knowledge is the key to succes. So I wish you all the best and you can ask questions when you face any problems.

Thanks for the tip. It's only difficult to get long consistent notes with this method. Tried it for a while. Moving the bow gave me the best results for now. I just keep trying every tip somebody mentioned.

Skál!

Hello Magnus, You could contact Atilla Szekeres. His RU-vid account is called 'Tagelharpa Lair'. Also this username is on other social media. It's a Tagelharpa builder from Hungary. You could contact Moon Cross Shop from Belarus. Although I'm not sure how export/import will be right now because of the war in East Europe. But you could always try to ask. He has a RU-vid channel and you can find the shop page on Facebook. You could also try to figure out if a violin bridge might work. You can find cheap ones on Thomann. They also sell micro tuners and they sell rosin. It's a German music store.

Hello Barefoot Arts, Which tone you recommend? I always try to be very carefull. I have a talent for destroying things. I don't want to destroy the strings, this was the main reason why I stopped playing guitar. I kept breaking those strings. My strings are made of horsehair. Some hairs of the first string are already broken. Happened during the first months of practice. So thickening might be a good idea for this string. I'm not sure if this instrument has a sound post. How could I check this? Thanks for helping.

@@MoritzMagicMusic you can ck for a sound post by looking through the soundhole w a flashlight to see if a post runs from the top, to the back near a bridge foot.

Hello! The recommended pitch for starters should be E4-A3-D3-D3. Once you know what you're doing, you can try different tunings. Just really try to make the tuning as correct as possible. Time after time, always this same tuning. This way, you will create your hearing skills. Also see the comments below. There are many good tips included. And some of the people responding, got their own videos on their channel. And in my opinion, sharing knowledge is the key to succes. Or just ask people who make music videos about what pitch they use. Not everyone will respond, but some will!

Hey G. Günther, I bought this tagelharpa from Moon Cross Shop. They have Facebook and Instagram. I recently ordered a Bass Tagelharpa from them and I'll post a video of this one once it arrived and once I get used to the bigger size. Bass sounds way lower.

Thanks, I'll try this one. Got any tuning tips for a Bass Tagelharpa? Just got myself this one some days ago.

@@MoritzMagicMusic i don't know about a bass one unfortunatly. I guess it depends on the strings

Thank you!

Hello, You can use both hand positions. You can put your finger on the strings (finger tops, soft side). This is the Estonian playing style. Personally, if you're a beginner, this technique feels easier to start with. You can also use the backside of your fingers (nails side). This is the Finnish technique. This technique has my preferences, as it is easier to make fast vibrating sounds that gives a song the ambience of a song like Ladies of The Woods - The Witcher 3. You don't really play specific notes, as you do on a violin or guitar. The first string is the melody string and the other 2 strings are the droning strings. You can also use the second string for melodies. But basically, you play another single scale on another string, and that's not called a note. You might try to play notes, but you will have to tune the instrument as a traditional guitar or violin. And try to copy the hand positions of these two instruments. Or you will have to train your musical hearing. to find each note on each string. Which is a bit of a puzzle, but it isn't impossible. For tuning, best change to C4, G3, C3. You want the melody string to be higher and the last string to be the same tune as the melody string, only 1 lower. For example: -G4_D3_G3. -C3_F2_C2. -G4_D3_G3. -D4_A3_D3. This is my experience in this, but I'm not educated in music, so someone else who was, might have a different opinion about this. I hope this helps you out!

@@MoritzMagicMusic if im using a 52 first string, 30 middle, 22 last or high string, its set on c4g4c4 but i can't tune down any to c3 since the strings will fully come undone. Was able to make out few notes with the finish style but not the thick string. Is there something wrong im doing?

@@sourkreem8890 Hello, What materials are your strings made of? Horsehair? How strong is the twist in the strings? Strings twisted too loose, are weaker and get loose when you try to tune lower notes. You should at least be able to get a low G or F. Mine gets loose at the F3.

@@MoritzMagicMusic horsehair, and they are twisted tight as i could get them, yeah my "high string" on c4 if i tune down itll come loose, the other two somewhat the same.

Hello, You have a new instrument? You used the instrument before? If so, did you apply rosin to the bow? With no rosin, there is literally no sound at all. Does your instrument have a soundpost or a bass bar? The instrument in this video doesn't have one. And then it's very quiet. So to get sound, you press very hard with the bow. Resulting in damages (broken hairs very fast).

Спасибо. Привет из страны тюльпанов!

Hallo Honda_prod _, Deze is van Moon Cross Shop uit Wit-Rusland. Ik speel er nu 3 jaar op en ik raad hem niet aan. Het design is mooi, maar het geluid is te laag van kwaliteit. Er missen belangrijke onderdelen die ik later zelf heb moeten inbouwen. Ik ben na 2,5 jaar overgestapt naar mijn eigen gebouwde instrumenten. Houdt ook rekening met erg hoge importkosten in verband met de Oekraïne oorlog. Er gelden momenteel sancties. Ik maak ze tegenwoordig ook zelf. Al m'n modellen staan op m'n RU-vid kanaal. Mocht daar interesse in zijn, dan hoor ik het wel. Groetjes Kevin (MoritzMagicMusic, Moritz_Band).

Yes I sometimes do.

Hello, I use gStrings for Android.

@@MoritzMagicMusic Thanks for the answer!

Hello, I use gStrings for Android. It's free in the app store.

Hello, This is G-strings for Android.

Ik had dat probleem (van het te los gaan zitten) vooral met mijn middelste snaar als ik hem in G3 wilde stemmen. De snaar zat dan zo los, dat er eigenlijk geen geluid meer af kwam. Maar strakker maakte dat de toon weer te hoog werd. Ik heb dit opgelost door die snaar in F3 te stemmen. Dat had mijn instrumentenmaker ook in zijn handleiding vermeldt als alternatieve tuning. Ik heb in het begin de snaren ook 'plukkend' gestemd. Voor mij werkte het niet echt. Iemand had al als comment op dit filmpje aangegeven dat je het beste lange halen met de boog kan maken voor de betere tuning (consistent notes). Dat doe ik in dit filmpje nog niet, maar in de praktijk nu wel. En dat werkt ook wel beter. Dan zie je echt rond welke noot je aan het schommelen bent. Ik ben nog best nieuw met muziek, maar met de tuning die ik nu gebruik (C4-F3-C3) heb ik geen last meer van te losse snaren. Ik heb met de eerste snaar (C4) nog wel het probleem dat hij wat lijkt te kraken/piepen als ik er noten op wil spelen. Alsof dat de snaar te strak zit. Maar heb ook al gemerkt dat ik de snaar minder hard moet aanraken met de boog als ik een noot wil aanslaan, dan hoor je het niet (enkel in solo, dat is gewoon echt niet mooi dan). Of het normaal is weet ik niet, ieder instrument blijkt toch net anders te klinken. Wat trouwens ook een ding blijkt te zijn is dat er een beetje een limiet op het instrument zit voor lagere tonen. Dus mede door die reden heb ik een bass tagelharpa besteld. Die reikt veel lager en dan kun je het net wat zwaarder laten klinken. Hij is nog niet af, maar er komen nog video's van aan zodra ik erop geoefend heb. Ik heb nu de brug extra laag gezet zodat de snaren op zijn langst zijn, maar te dichtbij de micro tuners werkt niet. Dan hoor je de knopjes meetrillen (metaal gerinkel) als je ze bijvoorbeeld bijna helemaal open gedraaid hebt. Maar dat is dus een beetje uitproberen.

@@MoritzMagicMusic Thanks dude! Fijn dat ik eindelijk een uitgebreide uitleg heb gekregen van iemand in m'n eigen taal. Informatie is überhaupt al best schaars. Hij heeft er bij jou een handleiding bij gedaan? Ik heb dezelfde maker (ik herken Moon Cross Shop uit duizenden) en dat heeft ie bij mij niet gedaan. Daarom zit ik al heel lang te kloten met tunen. Ik zit nu op B4 E4 B4. Iedereen zegt steeds weer wat anders xD. Ja bij mij is het nu juist de 3e snaar en als die een octaaf lager moet... ik ben altijd zo bang dat het paardenhaar stuk gaat of de snaar losschiet ofzo als ik de toon te laag doe. Nou had ik laatst wel weer opnieuw hars op de snaar gedaan, misschien gaat het dan iets beter. Dan zijn ze toch wat steviger lijkt het Edit: heb m'n taglharpa ondertussen naar C4 F3 C4 gestemd. Ik dacht dat ik dus al op de 4e octaaf zat maar ik zat dus in de 3e smh. M'n 3e snaar is nog steeds wat los tho... ben als de dood dat er iets mis is 😅

@@ewoudvanaalst4089 Ja fijn is dat hé! Het is echt geen populair instrument hier in de omgeving. Ik heb maanden zitten zoeken naar hoe ik er überhaupt aan kon komen. Nee de handleiding zit er niet standaard bij. Ik had om tips gevraagd en toen heeft hij een PDF doorgestuurd. Ik heb deze dan zelf uitgeprint, in een mapje gedaan en wat aantekeningen erbij gezet voor mezelf. Ik zou er nog even naar vragen, dan stuurt hij die vast ook nog op. Ik heb het idee dat paardenhaar best stevig is, het veert best goed mee. Ik heb een tijd elektrische gitaar gespeeld en die snaren zijn als een soort spoel gewikkeld. Dus als ze springen, dan is je hele snaar ook meteen kapot. Ik heb al wat haren laten klappen, maar dan is niet meteen heel de snaar kapot. Zorg er gewoon voor dat de snaar op den duur niet te dun wordt, 1 haar meer of minder zal geen ramp zijn. Daar zaten ze 1000 jaar geleden ook niet zo mee in. De derde snaar is nu gestemd in C4 en zit nu te los? Zitten de haren in een twist? Dus dat ze een beetje zoals bij een DNA streng gedraaid zijn? Of heb je ze kaarsrecht erop zitten? Of zit de knop te los?

@@MoritzMagicMusic Wat ik denk wat het probleem is, is dat er paar haartjes wat los zitten want als ik wat lager bij de brug pluk krijg ik zuiver geluid, ga ik wat hoger dan klinkt het losser. Heel apart. Zal morgen bij daglicht ff wat beter kijken. Dit is mijn eerste snaar instrument, heb tot nu toe alleen maar ervaring met Keyboard en tin whistle dus Taglharpa is dan ook best wel een vuurdoop. En misschien een stomme vraag, maar aangezien we beide Nederlands zijn en we beide ook beamen dat het fijn is om met iemand te praten in je eigen taal hierover. Heb je toevallig behoefte aan DM ergens? Dat praat misschien wat makkelijker dan de youtube comments en gezien we beide beginners zijn én dezelfde maker hebben kunnen we dan wat dingen uitwisselen en troubleshooten enzo. Als je dat niet wil snap ik dat o' course.

@@ewoudvanaalst4089 Of misschien dat 1 haar is geklapt en aan het storen is? Dat heb ik een keer gehad. Ik kwam er pas achter toen ik hem een keer helemaal los draaide. Ja stuur me even een e-mail. Even naar mijn account gaan en dan bij contact kijken. Dan krijg ik een bericht in m'n eigen mailbox. Als ik hier gegevens zet, dan komen de spamrobots me achterna.

Probably.