ANOTOMY

and 

LEXICON

of the 

TAGLHARPA/

JOUHIKKO


DETAILS ABOUT THE 

NAMES OF & PHRASES FOR 

ALL the PARTS of the TAGLHARPA/JOUHIKKO

The above letters that point to specific parts correspond to 

the letters with details below...

The two frame types on the left, and center, are UNI (as in unidextrous, meaning it can be only held with one specific hand when played, the left); the frame type on the Right is AMBI (as in ambidextrous, meaning it can technically be held with either the right hand or left hand when played)...

The most identifiable & unique feature of this instrument is the yoke (illustrated below), which consists of a crossbar with tuning-pegs / tuning keys, supported by two (sometimes three)  arms. The instrument strings would be played through an open area under the crossbar. The yoke is divided into two types: Ambidextrous & Unidextrous, meaning the Ambi yoke can be played with either the right or left hand, while the Uni yoke can only be played with the one hand it was made for (typically the left hand).

The instrument typically has two, three, or four strings that attach at one end to the tuning-pegs, are strung over the sounding board, crossing the top of the bridge, and continue to the opposite end, attaching to the harness, which is typically a combination of parts which may include:

All of these parts combined are collectively referred to as the harness (illustrated below) and the harness constitutes the Termination of the strings—the opposite end from where they attach to the tuning-pegs.

Some of the most common Termination types are:

[noted on illustrations below]

The tuned strings produce sound through bowing: by moving the bow and its rosin-coated bow-hair across the surface of the strings; the vibration caused by the bow & strings is audible, and then reinforced & prolonged as these audible vibrations transfer through the bridge, into the sound board, and throughout the  sound-box resonator. This bowing of each string creates the differently tuned sounds or musical notes of the instrument. Melodies are played by the four index fingers of the hand that holds the handle, by pressing the tips of the fingers against the length of the first string (and/or second string) at different intervals in conjunction with the bowing.

Tuning of Strings 

(Setting the Language)

Each String on the instrument is called a "Tongue"; The standard number of Tongues (Strings) is Three (with some designs the minimum is typically two & the maximum is usually four); each Tongue is tuned to specific musical frequency/pitch that is called the "Language." The act of playing a note or chord with the fingers and/or bow is called a "Report," therefore playing a note is to "Report the Language." If playing the strings with your left hand, the Tongues are counted from (facing the front Soundboard of the instrument) right to left, starting at string three (3) which is Tongue one (1), and each are individually designated as:

Third Language (Tongue 3, String 1)

Second Language (Tongue 2, String 2)

First Language (Tongue 1, String 3)

If you play with your right hand, everything would be reversed, both the Tongues and each Language.

The melody is played primarily on Tongue 3 (String 1) in the Third Language, with the Tongues 1 & 2 (Strings 2 & 3) in the Second Language & First Language acting as drones. The tuning is usually in the key of “D” or “G”; for example a “G-Tuned” instrument may be “A1,” “D1,” and “G1” (from Third Language to First Language, respectively).

The tuning of a G-tuned string is usually A1 -D1 -G1 . The first string G1, which is played only with the bow, is the basic note of the scale. The second language is the Bordun sound, D1. The second note of the scale, A1, is obtained by playing the third string free. The next note, B1, is played with the index finger. C2 and Cis2 are played with the middle finger . With anonymous D2 and small E2 and upwards from there. The strings of a two-string strum are tuned either a fifth or a quarter apart. The tuning level of Pratsu's and Vaittinen's instruments has been in F.

Bourdon (Bordun)