Learn to play 5-string kantele in the style of Antti Rantonen -- the basics:

Why play 5-string kantele in the style of Antti Rantonen?  Antti Rantonen combined chord-strumming and picking and enlarged the variety of timbres, taking advantage of fingers leaving the chord positions after damping the strings not belonging to the chord by playing the notes as the fingers are released.  His fingerings also minimised the risk of losing finger positions.  Martti Pokela (also born in Haapavesi) continued to develop 5-string style by finding new techniques, timbres and tunings.

5-string kanteles are usually tuned:

1- - - - - - - - - d1 - - - - - - - - - do   in minor:  (la)

    2  - - - - - - e1 - - - - - - - - - re                     (ti)

       3 - - - - - f#1 - - - - - - - - me               f1  (do)

           4 - - - - g1 - - - - - - - - - fa                   (re)

                5 - - a1 - - - - - - - - -so                   (mi)

Lower tunings may sound ugly and higher tunings than (f1,g1,a1, Bb1,c2) and upwards may break strings or not stay in tune.

How to read the chords and music on this page:  This site uses 5-string kantele tablature!  The lines are kantele strings in the same order as you see them when you have the kantele in front of you (the shortest string is nearest).  The pieces progress timewise from left to right.  You can also practice on the lines (not very healthy!) or better yet on paper...  When you want to get a real kantele, ask me to help you, I know the best builders and deals and can usually figure out a way to get it to you, even by a kantele-player visiting your area!  (We kantele-players travel a lot!)

X= damp the string by touching it only enough to ensure it doesn't vibrate when you strum the kantele
== means that the finger is still there(be lazy like Garfield the cat), when you pluck the string while removing this finger it is marked
==> with the number of the string (Sorry, this saves bits and gives room for more important pictures and hopefully videos or recordings!)

The arrow shows the direction of the strum after the damping fingers are in place.

The other numbers are the numbers of the strings you pluck, see the "plucking" picture for the correct fingers!

PLUCKING FINGERS

 (pluck straight up like a hen picking grain)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 1- right forefinger 

   - -left ringfinger - 2 - - - - - - - - - -

      - left middle - - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

         left forefinger-4 - - - - - - - - - -

             - - - - - - - -5 - right forefinger

After you've practiced from finger to finger back and forth in this order, you can prove your plucking skills on Adam and Eve's Waltz before progressing towards the mixed style that Antti Rantonen used.

                                      I-chord

  (your right forefinger strums towards you)                                      

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -| - (open to resonate and be heard)

   - - -left ringfinger - x=|== (silent because your left finger presvents it from resonating)

      - - - - - - - - - - - | - - (your left middle finger is waiting above this string whenever it isn't touching it!)

         left forefinger - x=|== (silent because your left finger presvents it from resonating)

             - - - -  - - - - |--- (open to resonate and be heard)

              \/

                                       V-chord

(when changing to this chord from the I-chord just lower your left middle finger & move your ring finger outwards)                              

- - - - -left ringfinger - x=|===

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -|------

       - - - - left middle - x=|===

             left forefinger x=|===

             - - - - - - - - - - - - |===

                   \/

These are the only chords and fingerings that you will need for learning the first piece in the mixed style, Adam & Eve's Waltz..  When you learn more you can play the piece in your own style by changing rhythms, notes, harmonies and timbres.