New Kantele Sheet Music! Melody #3

Just another kantele sheet music update for a newly added kantele sheet music composition. Titled Melody #3, this song is a simple composition for the five string kantele in D major. Like my other posted sheet music pieces, it includes staff notation and tabs for the strings, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. The song is available as PDF for download either in the link below or in the Kantele Sheet Music page at the top.

This particular piece is one that I wrote last year on my Kantele #001. It is a simpler melody, but one of my favorites to play. When I wrote it in sheet music form I wanted to simplify it with a repeat bar, but the timing and note placement did not work out cleanly for it to be implemented. It has a nice, upbeat and calming feel to it, and is a piece I play often, whether practicing or just plucking the strings. Have fun and enjoy, and check back for more sheet music and updates!

Melody #3
 

New Kantele Sheet Music! Melody #2

Just a quick update for a new available kantele sheet music! This composition, titled Melody #2, can be found on the Kantele Sheet Music page or in the provided link below. This melody is a composition for the five string kantele in D major. Like my previously uploaded sheet music pieces, the sheet music includes both staff notation and tabs, and is available as a PDF file for download. This is a fun but slightly challenging song which has overtones inserted into the phrasing of the melody, and requires smooth change in alternation between the overtones and the normal plucking technique. I will definitely need to upload a video for this song at some point for reference for the technique to make it easier to visualize and learn. In addition with the normal notes and overtone tabs as discussed in previous sheet music updates, this song includes a simple 2 note chord, which in the staff notation, consists of the stacked notes, and right underneath in the tabs are the two rows corresponding numbers representing the plucked string for the chord - in this case, the chord used consists of a "3" (marking the middle string on a 5 string kantele, or the F# note when tuned to the D major scale), and a "1" right under it (marking the lowest string, or the D note). All this means is to pluck both strings simultaneously when playing. Have fun and enjoy, and remember, practice makes perfect!

Melody #2

New Kantele Sheet Music! Melody #1 - Overtone Ending

Just an update for a new piece of kantele sheet music. This sheet music can be found in the Kantele Sheet Music Page tab located at the top, or in the link provided. This sheet music, as mentioned in my prior post, is the full version of Melody #1, with the overtone ending. I have just posted them separately since the overtone ending can be difficult to do quickly, but again, the music can be interpreted as fast or as slow as you want. Just as a reference, the octave overtone notes in the sheet music are marked with the string number followed by an "o", which is the format I will stick with for now for the tabs in the sheet music. So the octave overtone for string 1 (the longest string on the kantele) is marked as "1o" on the sheet music under the staff notation. I will try to post some videos at some point, both fast and slow versions of the song for reference and tutorial material. The music is in PDF form and is available for download. Check back for more sheet music to come, and enjoy!

Melody #1 - Overtone Ending

New Page Added! Kantele Sheet Music!

As promised in my last post, I have uploaded a dedicated resource page for kantele sheet music that I post, the Kantele Sheet Music page. This will make it easier to find and browse the sheet music that I add, in one convenient location. Right now the page only includes Melody #1, however, I have many more to add, and will continue to add them as I finalize pieces. As also mentioned in my previous post, my next post for this coming Sunday will include the original and full version of Melody #1, which has a short overtone section in the end. I decided to provide the sheet music separately because the overtone section can be a bit tricky if you want to play it faster. I do however plan on starting to upload videos and sound files as well, for not only the sheet music I post, but improvisations too. So check back for more updates in upcoming posts!

New Kantele Sheet Music! Melody #1

I have finally gotten around to preparing and uploading sheet music for the kantele that I have written, and is the first of many sheet music pieces I will be uploading for the kantele. I have never been good at naming things, and since it was the first piece I composed, named it as Melody #1. The piece is available in a link as a pdf at the bottom of this post.

This particular piece is a simple repetitive melody I wrote last year after completing my first kantele. At the time I was just starting to play around with the kantele, and this little melody arose, like most melodies, from improvising on the kantele. The song stuck, and serves as a simple practice piece. These kind of numbered melody pieces, as you will find, will generally share the same structure of a repeated first section intro, followed by a repeated second section, and third section ending which is a repeat of the first section. The sheet music is good reference, but the song can be proportionally played faster or slower depending on playing style. For myself, I tend to play rather rapidly, so the repeated sections go by fast for me when I play.

The melody is written for the 5 string kantele in D major, though any kantele can play it in the correct tuning. Since I use slightly thicker strings, I originally composed my songs in the key of C, since I tuned my kantele a whole step lower, but because just about all 5 string kantele are tuned to either a standard of D major or minor, I decided to transpose the final released piece in D for ease for the majority of kantele players. However, under each note is also a kind of "tab" notation for the kantele, so it can be played in any major scale regardless of tuning. The numbers go from 1-5, and correspond to the strings, with 1 being the longest and lowest string and 5 being the shortest and highest pitch string. The original melody was written with a short overtone section at the end that repeats the first and third parts, but for simplicity I left it out of this version. I will however release the full version in the next coming posts in about a week.

I wrote the song using MuseScore, which is an excellent and very powerful free music composition and notation program. When I write pieces for the kantele I choose the harp instrument setting and just delete the bass staff. MuseScore allows you to not only compose a multitude of instruments, but has many useful features such as playback which is very handy. I will probably post a basic tutorial for MuseScore at some point in the future.

In addition, I will also be adding a Kantele Sheet Music page dedicated to listing all of the sheet music I post, as further reference and resources to make it easier to find these pieces. From my posting schedule, which I have decided to keep at a post every four days, I will be posting this page with Melody #1 listed, this coming Wednesday for my next post. I definitely encourage you to check back for more material, and have fun playing! Many more songs and information to come, so happy plucking!

Melody #1

New Page Added! Kantele Build Logs!

Just another update regarding a new page added to the blog! The Kantele Build Logs page, located at the top or in the bolded link provided, like some of my other previously published pages, is a way to organize and collect information and posts regarding build logs I have written. This will make it easier to find and look up information regarding either my pseudo-build logs or completed build logs for the kantele I have made so far. Like my other pages, I will update them when new material is added. Right now the page contains the pseudo-build logs of my kanteles #001, #002, #003, and #004, with the last being broken up into three parts. Kind of as a sneak peak for future work, I am currently compiling information for two additional and more complete build logs for two new kantele that I am working on. They will most likely be completed in the upcoming months, with complete information and details. These next two kanteles, #009 and #010 (I have to set aside working on #005 - #008 for now), are definitely unique builds, certainly different than my previous kanteles but still reflecting my own style of kantele making. Kantele #010 in particular is an uber-budget model, made from a free and very unlikely but challenging source of wood, while kantele #009 is a radically different and epic style kantele inspired from mythology and a desire to have a kantele with a more natural and raw construction while combining hand carved and shaped features. So browse around and enjoy, and check back for more updates!

New Page Added! Completed Kanteles!

Just a quick update on a new kantele page for the blog! The Completed Kanteles page, located at the top above or in the bolded link provided, is a page dedicated to my ever growing list of kanteles that I have completed. This page should make it easier to navigate to information regarding each of the completed kantele builds. As I build more kanteles in the future, I will continue to add and update the page. I definitely have some unique kanteles on the way I will be working on in the next coming months, with complete information and build logs, so stay tuned for updates! And if you haven't already viewed the completed kanteles, I encourage you to take a look! Enjoy!

Pseudo-Build Log of Kantele #004 - Part III

Welcome to the third and final part of this series of build logs for my kantele #004! The last two parts showed the basic construction and preparation of the frame of the kantele. This last portion includes a few shots of the finished frame and different angles of different features. From here on out, my future kantele build logs will try to include the entire and complete documented process for each kantele. Like the other posts, just hover your mouse over the picture for a description or click to enlarge.
 

                         

Extra Sources and Info:
 
1.) Pseudo-Build log of Kantele #004 - Part I

2.) Pseudo-Build log of Kantele #004 - Part II

3.) Completed Kantele #004 Info

Pseudo-Build Log of Kantele #004 - Part II

Welcome back to Part II of this kantele build log for kantele #004. The previous part showed a few of the beginning stages with the raw bubinga turning blanks and gluing of the sides. Below are more pictures showing the gluing and construction of the frame. Just hover your mouse over the pictures for a description or click to enlarge. Part III to come shortly, enjoy!

 

Extra Sources and Info:
 
1.) Pseudo-Build log of Kantele #004 - Part I

2.) Completed Kantele #004 Info

Pseudo-Build Log of Kantele #004 - Part I

       Welcome to the fourth installment of my kantele pseudo-build logs! This log will show some of the details of kantele #004, which happens to be my favorite to date. Like my previous build logs, I kind of dropped the ball on documenting the later portions of the build, so I really only have some of the early parts documented. I will however be taking a more complete documentation of my future kantele builds now that I have gotten more involved in posting and sharing this work. Because there are a lot more pictures with this build log, I will break it up into three parts so that this post isn't overloaded with pictures. Just hover your mouse over the pictures for a description or click to enlarge. Below I have included links to the pages of the completed kantele #004, as well as additional resources for upcoming builds and reviews of suppliers I commonly buy my woods from to create my kantele. Stay tuned for Part II in the coming week!

 

Extra Sources and Info:

1.) Completed Kantele #004 Info

2.) Some Future Kantele Wood Choices

3.) Suggested Wood Sources

4.) Raw Materials Resources

Pseudo-Build Log of Kantele #003

A third installment of my rather impromptu kantele pseudo-build logs, this time giving an overview of kantele #003. A little more detail is given of the basic cutting and roughing of the front and the ponsi. Again, when I was building this, I was more excited to finish the instrument than to document progress, so these are the photos that I obtained early in the process. As always I am more than willing to give suggestions for aspiring kantele builders. Below is a link to the completed kantele page, as well as additional sources of wood I commonly use here in the U.S.

 

 

 

 

Extra Sources and Info:

1.) Kantele #003 Info: http://oertheeternalstrings.blogspot.com/2014/11/kantele-003.html

 2.) Suggested Sources of Wood for DIY Kantele: http://oertheeternalstrings.blogspot.com/2015/01/suggested-wood-sources-for-kantele-or.html  

New Page Added! Suppliers and Materials Resources List!

I finally have gotten around to adding a dedicated page for suppliers of various materials and resources for kantele building, and woodworking in general. I will continue to add to the list, but for now it includes a bunch of sources to get started with. I will only add sources that I have purchased from and would recommend myself. I don't have everything up yet, but again I will continue to add as I go along. I will also be adding pages for kantele groups and resources, sheet music, and videos, so check back for more material!

Raw Materials Resources Page

Suggested Wood Sources and Reviews

Pseudo-Build Log of Kantele #002

Here is the second of my pseudo-build logs, with an overview of kantele #002. I didn't take as many pictures of the later processes again, but it should provide a little more reference for building frames for anyone interested in making their own. These kantele are again of my own style, one that I have developed myself, and are not traditional, but it should give some background on basic construction techniques for those who are interested. The thumbnails can be opened as larger pictures, and I am always more than happy to answer questions about kantele making, provide feedback, or suggestions if needed. Information on the completed kantele can be found in the link below.

Extra Sources and Info:

1.) Kantele #002 Info: http://oertheeternalstrings.blogspot.com/2014/11/kantele-002.html

2.) Suggested Sources of Wood for DIY Kantele: http://oertheeternalstrings.blogspot.com/2015/01/suggested-wood-sources-for-kantele-or.html  

Pseudo-Build Log of Kantele #001

When I first started making my kantele, I had intended on creating a detailed build log with all the steps. However, I got too caught up in making the kantele and as a result, got rather lazy on documenting my progress. Though this isn't a true build log, It does give a kind of general flow of how this kantele was built. I didn't include all of the details such as the backboard, decorative headplate, or ponsi, but this gives the rough basics of building the frame as a general reference. You can click on the thumbnails for a larger picture. To see the completed kantele just click on the first link below at the bottom of the page.

Extra Sources and Info:

1.) Kantele #001 Info:  http://oertheeternalstrings.blogspot.com/2014/10/kantele-001.html

2.) Future Wood Choices: http://oertheeternalstrings.blogspot.com/2015/01/some-future-kantele-wood-choices.html 

3.) Suggested Sources of Wood for DIY Kantele: http://oertheeternalstrings.blogspot.com/2015/01/suggested-wood-sources-for-kantele-or.html