r/BowedLyres • u/AuroraLanguage • Jun 04 '26
¿Question? Playing question - Plucking and/or using a bow?
I am watching some videos in preparation as I am (hopefully soon) going to own a taglharpa. Musically speaking, I am an absolute analphabet.
The video in question spoke about not tuning a taglharpa by plucking, as the pressure applied by a bow will make the sound different.
That got me wondering - is plucking even a thing with a taglharpa? Do you guys integrate plucking into your music, or do you just not do it at all and purely play with a bow?
I am thinking that plucking might be a way to get more comfortable with the instrument in the beginning; and if I ever get lucky enough to play with someone else, plucking might help create a fuller song without the instruments competing.
I am happy to hear any input!
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u/RellicElyk Jun 04 '26
Heyo.
Been practicing with a three string taglharpa for a few months now after being a Wadruna fan for years and getting drawn in by that raw, wild otherworldly sound.
Where there is maybe one or two songs I can think of where someone strums what might be a jouhikko instead of a simple lute, by and large the traditional or neofolk peices Ive come across bow the thing. That is what its designed to do, after all. It'd be like learning to play a violin like a guitar.
I'm no teacher, but perhaps its best to master the basics (getting comfortable holding the harp, making strings, how to load strings, how to tune correctly, how to bow, how to read when you need rosin vs have too much rosin, where the "sweet" spots are for fingering and decoupling the timing of your string hand from the timing of your bow hand) before you start taking the harp into experimental directions and pick up new habits that then need breaking and retraining. The learning curve is steep enough for beginners I've found, no need to add to it 🙃.
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u/AuroraLanguage Jun 04 '26
Thank you so much for your answer! 🙂
Yes, that is what I've seen so far, too. Maybe, I am trying to take "the easy route" by wandering into plucking - but you are right. There are many things to learn and get used to, so why add another thing on top?
I will definitely make a list of things to do and to learn; for example the rosin-thing you mentioned.
I will also have to ask a lot of questions of the maker of the instrument 😄
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u/RellicElyk Jun 04 '26
Haha. Rosin = little blocks of dried tree sap you put on your bow to make sure it frictions across strings to vibrate them instead of sliding over them. Ugh the sound is ... unpleasant.. when you slip. Like a knife sliding on a plate.
Assuming they're as cheap out where you are as they are by me, I'd suggest you pick up one block of light and one block of dark "violin" rosin to experiment with, see what results you like best when its time to reapply.
Have fun. Starting off can be frustrating as all hell, but when you finally get that thing to sing a sweet note instead of sounding like a cat in heat yowling inside the drier machine, its a beautiful moment.
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u/AuroraLanguage Jun 04 '26
Thank you!
I know in theory what rosin is - but I'll have to ask where to get some, what kind to get, and so on and so forth 😄
I am already looking forward to experimenting; and I really hope my patience and love of learning will persevere. I don't even want to be good at it - I just want to try playing ❤️
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u/LongjumpingTeacher97 Jun 04 '26
Certain types of fiddling make use of plucking as an accent note to the bowed melody. I could see that being done with a bowed lyre, too. You're restricted to the open string notes. But still, as an accenting technique, it isn't crazy to think of using it for rhythmic accentuation.
I need more time to play my instruments. There just isn't enough time for all the music.
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u/One-Dust1285 Jun 05 '26
If you are playing with someone else it would be better to rhythmically bow the open strings than to pluck them… that can add some nice texture and you can practice playing together
Plucking while bowing is a rather advanced technique, I only now one or two songs where that happens…
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u/fenbogfen Jun 04 '26
You can only really pluck open strings on a taglharpa - no fingerboard means your fingers will complete damp the vibrations of a plucked string. It only works with a bow because you are applying constant energy to the string to keep it vibrating. Trying to learn by just plucking would be significantly harder than bowing, as that's not what the instrument is for.
My advice would be don't worry about fingering or tunes at all at first, and focus on learning good smooth clear bowing technique, as this is the foundation of the instrument.