Self made Jouhikko

This is a video about a Jouhikko I made in January/February 2012. Jouhikko is an old Finnish folk instrument that was mostly played in Karelia and Savonia. The construction of my instrument is basically similar to Estonian/Swedish Talharpa, but mine has only three strings instead of four and different tuning, so I call it a Jouhikko. Just wanted to share the sound of it and to encourage people to build their own instruments.

This Jouhikko`s body and top is made out of spruce, tuning pegs are maple, bridge is birch and the string holder is basswood. You can use almost any wood available and have a good working instrument.

If you want more info about making a Jouhikko, just ask. I would also recommend to read the Jouhikko - The Bowed Lyre, book by Rauno Nieminen.

There`s the primitive blueprints I had for this instrument, though I made slight changes along the way.
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii...

• Category

  Music

[TheRealQawser]

I cant delete my previour post. But is there anywhere I can find the plans for this?

[Janne Väätäinen]

I added a link to the plans I had for this jouhikko to the video description. There`s not all the measures, but you can calculate almost everything. The thickness of the instrument is about 5 to 7cm, and the thickness of the soundboards is around 3 to 4mm. The strings has 25 to 45 horsehairs each, and the bow has 100. I made this jouhikko from 6 separate pieces of wood. I also glued some kind of a bass bar to the soundboard.

[Jaakko Peltier]

Kait tota vempelettä soitettiin myöskin Hämeessä päin? ;)

[Janne Väätäinen]

En osaa sanoa, mutta ainakin kaikki museoidut soittimet tuntuvat olevan peräisin Savosta ja Laatokan Karjalasta.

[JL3Wind]

Sounds really nice! Maybe I'll make one myself some day, but that will take a while since I've just recently started to play folk music in general, with my jaw harp :)

So is this going to be on the upcoming AH album? Can't wait for it!

[Janne Väätäinen]

You don`t have to be a player to make an instrument, but you can become one afterwards.

Yes, this Jouhikko will be on the next Auringon hauta album.

[SamarkandeNorth]

Very beautiful! Thank you for putting up this video of the ancient instrument.

[mrenebro]

Hienosti soitettu!

[Dunholmpiper]

Sounds great!

[rpeek]

Very cool

[TheRealQawser]

is there anywhere

[Bálint Kemény]

Janne, your instrument is absolutely awesome I love it, and I can't wait to hear the next Auringon Hauta album :)

Hails to our great Finnish brother from Hungary :)

Bálint

[mediecelte]

Nice. and great new! :D