How to Tune a Nyckelharpa


16-strings? Now what? A nyckelharpa can be a little intimidating to get tuned. It gets easier with practice.

We will start with ergonomics. Earl has had back surgery. To get through tuning a nyckelharpa without back pain, he has found that it works to set it on a table top and sit in a chair. The peg head should protrude slightly over the edge of the table so you can easily reach under it to get at the tuning pegs. This allows him to work in a position that is OK for his back.

It is common to tune with

the nyckelharpa on your lap (with or without a strap).

We use a digital tuner with a clip on microphone. We attach the clip to the bridge under the A-string and set the tuner either on the table next to the instrument or on a convenient surface where you can see it.

We typically start by tuning the 4 main playing strings starting with the A. Then we do the sympathetic strings starting at the low end. After we get through the sympathetic strings, we go back and check the main strings again.

The more precise the tuning, the better your nyckelharpa will sound.

Tuning tangents:

On a nyckelharpa, the little post that sticks out of the top of the key and touches the string is called a tangent. The bottom of the tangent is a round post in a tight fitting hole. The fit should be tight enough to make the tangent difficult to turn with your fingertips. The tangent can be rotated to adjust the pitch of each key individually. A new nyckelharpa should come with the keys tuned correctly by the builder. If the keys need to be adjusted, here is how to do it.

You will need a good tuner, or a very quiet place if you have perfect pitch. You will need some small pieces of dense foam to deaden the sympathetic strings (disposable ear plugs, cut in half, work). You will need a small pair of pliers with the tips padded (several wraps of tape works) to prevent damage to the tangents.

Check the bridge position to make sure it is exactly 400 mm (for a standard nyckelharpa). You should be able to check with the builder to find out if your's is a different measurement. If the measurement is off, adjust the bridge to get it correct. You can call Earl if you need help in how to adjust a bridge.

Use the dense foam to deaden the vibrations on every string but the one you will be working on.

For the string you are working on, check the tuning of this string as an open string. Then go to the key you are starting with and check its tuning. Checking the key is done with 3 different methods, by bowing, plucking, or by tapping the key to bounce the tangent against the string. You will find that you may need to use each of these methods at different times with different keys. Rotate the tangent post using the pliers to get the intonation you want on each key. This takes a while to go through an entire set of keys.

Recheck the open string before & after tuning each key.

Other issues:
New strings will stretch a lot for the first week or so.

Changes in temperature and humidity will affect the tuning. This is a wooden acoustic instrument.

Over time, strings continue to stretch. The re-tuning will eventually tilt the bridge towards the nut. You will eventually need to re-set the bridge.

(Page last updated 9/7/2015)