How To Play One Octave Higher
Than The Note Tuned
The small circle that appears above or below a note in a song
means the harmonic should be plucked (one octave up).
Download: "How to Find the Middle of the String" (avi file) or (mp4 zipfile)
You can make your kantele string play a note that's one octave higher than the note it's actually tuned to (also called "plucking the harmonic"). To do this, you first need to find the middle of the string you want to play.
Place the pad of your left "pointer" finger down lightly on a string, starting at the far left hand side of your kantele. Use your right hand to pluck towards you while you slowly slide your left hand from left to right, down the length of the string.
You won't hear any note when you start plucking but, as you slide your finger down the string, a note will start to sound. At first it won't be very clear, but that will change as soon as you reach the middle point of the string.
Stop when you think you've found it. Now you're ready to try the actual technique!
Place the pad of your left "pointer" finger exactly on the middle of the string. Now, simultaneously lift your left finger straight up off the string while you pluck the string with your right hand finger. You should hear a note exactly one octave higher.
Repeat with another string.
How Do You Remember Where the Middle Of The String Is?
If you want, you can use a pencil to draw a small "x" on the wood under the string to help you remember where the middle point is. If - like me - you don't like to mark your kantele, you can easily memorize the middle point by studying your instrument's wood grain.
I noticed that my instrument has whorls, slight differences in color, and other small, natural markings in the grain. No matter where I look on my kantele, there is something unique about any given spot! Look at the wood under the middle of the string you're working with. What do you see?
If you train yourself to remember the unique markings of your instrument, you can use those markings to guide you when you're playing. It may take a little longer to learn this technique but, in the end, you will have a more intimate relationship with your kantele.
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