Slavic Wing-Shaped Gusli 12 Strings – Bundle

Improved version of the 9-string wing shaped gusli — the perfect option for advanced musicians! Increased width makes the sound deeper and more surround, and the beech plank helps tuning pegs stay in tune much longer!

Scope of delivery:

12-string wing-shaped gusli with the wave

Soft suitcase

Tuning key

Spare strings set

Hooks for attaching a strap

 

3 years warranty

Shipping included (within Europe / For delivery to third countries excl. Shipping; please contact by e-mail)

 

Technical Part

Specs:

Body: alder

Soundboard: spruce

Other details: beech

Pegs: metal

 

Body dimensions:

Length: 725 mm

Width: 236 mm

Thickness: 80 mm

Weight: 1.7 kg

(Size, color, wood structure, and weight can vary slightly, as the instruments are handmade) 

 

Tuning:

E3/F#3 : A3 B3 C#4 D4 E4 F#4 G4 A4 B4 C#5 D5 (A major (↓7))

G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5

(G major (↓7))

 

String Diameter:

E3/F#3 – 60 mm

A3 – 55 mm

B3 – 50 mm

C#4 – 45 mm

D4 – 40 mm

E4 – 40 mm

F#4 – 40 mm

G4 – 35 mm

A4 – 35 mm

B4 – 30 mm

C#5 – 30 mm

D5 – 25 mm

 

Required Length of Replacement Strings (cm):

E3/F#3 – 73 cm

A3 – 69 cm

B3 – 65 cm

С#4 – 61 cm

D4 – 58 cm

E4 – 55 cm

F#4 – 53 cm

G4 – 50 cm

A4 – 48 cm

B4 – 46 cm

C#5 – 44 cm

D5 – 43 cm

You can find replacement strings here.

 

Tips & Tricks

To play music on a gusli you don’t need to understand musical literacy or have skills of playing other musical instruments! You only need the gusli itself, a tuning key and a tuner.

How to tune?

For tuning you will need an instrument itself, a tuning key and a tuner. A tuner is a device for tuning musical instruments. It can either be purchased separately at a music store or you can download an app. We use CarlTune app, which is available both on  Google Play and App Store.

The gusli is tuned as follows: we start with the second string from the bottom (the second longest one). We will come back to the first string a bit later. So, the second string is tuned to the note A. Turn on the tuner, pluck the string and check if the tuner arrow is on the note A. If the arrow does not reach the note, i.e. sounds lower, it means that the string needs to be tightened, so we take the tuning key and smoothly turn the first string peg clockwise. As you turn the peg, the sound will get higher and the arrow will get closer to the desired note.

As the arrow hits the note and lights up blue, it means that the string is tuned. Accordingly, if the string is overtuned, i.e. sounds higher than the desired note, the peg should be turned counterclockwise to loosen the string tension and lower the sound. Pay attention to the figure next to the note: the figure is the number of the octave we need. The number next to the A note should be 3.

The process of tuning the remaining strings is similar to the process of tuning the A string. The third string is tuned to the note of B(3), the fourth to the note of C#(4), the fifth to D(4), the sixth to E(4), the seventh to F#(4), the eighth to G(4), the ninth to A(4), the tenth to B(4), the eleventh to C#(5), the twelfth to D(5) .

Let’s go back to the first string. There are two ways of tuning: E(3) or F#(3). By tuning the string to F#, we will get a minor tuning (the gusli will sound “sad”); if we tune the string to the note of E, we will get a major tuning (the instrument will sound “cheerful” respectively).

How to hold?

Traditionally, a Slavic gusli is held vertically, i.e. the lower, long part of the body is located on the lap, and the back deck is leaned against the belly.

You can play the gusli both sitting, putting the instrument on your lap, and standing, hanging the gusli on a special strap.

How to play?

There are several ways to play the gusli. The main ones are strumming, plucking, and hooking.

For an accompaniment (for example, to songs), we use the strumming technique: we hit all the strings with the index finger of our right hand downwards and with the thumb upwards, whereas with the left hand fingers we mute particular strings. The fingers of the left hand are put either between the strings (traditional position), or on the strings.

Plucking technique is playing particular strings. With the left hand we mute certain strings, and with the index finger and thumb of the right hand we hit the open ones: downwards with the index finger, upwards with the thumb.

Hooking is a cross between strumming and plucking. The right hand index finger hits all the strings, and the fingers of the left hand “hook” particular strings, what creates the feeling that several instruments play at once.

 

Additional information

The 12-string wing-shaped gusli with a wave are an improved version of the 9-string wing-shaped gusli.

The features of the advanced version of the instrument are as follows:

1. The sound of the 12-string instrument is deeper, louder, and more surround because of its bigger size;
2. There is a beech plank which helps the tuning pegs stay in tune much longer;
3. According to many professionals,  because of the wave-like form, the left hand takes its comfortable and “natural” position while playing;
4. More strings let a musician inverse chords (so one can play the same melody both on the lower and the upper strings), diversify a melodic phrase and use more techniques.