Bowed Lyre/Jouhikko part 2 of 3 Horsehair strings

This second video gives you an idea how to fit the hair on the instrument, you cannot get pre-twisted Horsehair strings, its something the player has to do. I am using good strong Black Mongolian Horsehair.

For this model of Bowed Lyre with a scale length of approx. 330mm i use 25-30 hairs for both the G4 strings and 50-55 for the D4 string. Some degree of experimentation will be necessary depending on the type of hair used, it is easier to take away hair than to add it mind! As a side note this scale length and string thickness works well in the standard Jouhikko tuning too, just re-arrange the strings so that you have G4, lowerC bass, F4, This keeps the sound quality and means you can play the same as Corwen, Rauno or Pekka!!

One note, once the hair is twisted and inserted in the slot you then wrap the 2" of extra hair around the pin, this is the opposite of how you wind on a guitar string but it keeps the twist in the hair.

Plans for my instruments are available from
http://www.michaeljking.com/bowed_lyres.htm

Join the Lyre forum if you want to join in discussions about these instruments
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Anglo_Saxon_Lyres/
I have a facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#%21/profile.php?id=532049771

Bowed Lyre fan page is here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Bowed-Lyre/182283048469499

Category:

Music

Tags:

• lyre
• bowed
• jouhikko
• finnish
• swedish
• talharpa
• horsehair
• strings
• fiddle
• stråkharpa
• tagelharpa
• harp

[DystopianEmpire01]

Will there be a Part 3?

[michaeljking]

@DystopianEmpire01 this year....soon

[MrRandomWritings]

Fascinating - I guess we forget that once upon a time you couldn't just walk into a shop and buy a set of strings!

[michaeljking]

@MrRandomWritings yes, Its very interesting, I am sure selectively taking some hair from your horse was a little easier than making gut strings....

[5tonyvvvv]

@michaeljking Can Gut and sinew strings work? and can horse hair work on a Lute? 

[DystopianEmpire01]

Thanks for the reply! I am interested in the primitive style bow that is used with this instrument, care and matainence of it and how to use it correctly.

[blackcatspirit13]

Very interesting indeed! It's no wonder our ancestors chose horse hair to make strings... Not only was it readily available, but it is also so very flexible yet incredibly strong. Thanks for the upload, Michael. Looking forward to your next vid. :)