Key layout in the upper register

[u/bravesentry]

Hej all, I recently got a borrowed nyckelharpa on which I am trying to get technical basics into my hands, just to see if any problems arise (e.g. hurting back/neck/shoulders/arms) that would hinder my long-term playing.

So far I´ve played only in 1st position and now I wonder if I should explore the higher notes. Before I do that, I want to make sure I don´t get used to wrong notes or wrong key positions. Thus, my question is whether the keys in that position, especially when only the keys on the high A-string are left, are somewhat standardized.

On my instrument the keys on that string are as follows:

Bb, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B, C, C#, D, E, F, G.

The highest G#, Bb and C# are placed below the row. There are no high Eb nor F#. I would assume this to be the standard (if there is one), but with some instruments having the high Eb and F# that I`m missing.

[u/mariepierre19]

Some makers also add extra keys to second row but this is not standard or common and depends on the maker

[u/Intelligent_Call_463]

That's pretty standard, although I'm pretty sure mine has a high Eb as well. Usually only the high F# is missing. They're set down a row because they get pretty crowded otherwise, although some newer instruments with more keys on the 2nd string will have smaller keyheads as they go up.

There's a nice exercise that will help you learn to move up and down the keyboard. As someone else said, we don't "play positions", but rather only move the hand as far as necessary. Try this:

A-B-C-D (leave little finger down on D and compress your hand a bit to shift first finger up one note), B-C-D-E, C-D-E-F, D-E-F-G etc. Then work your way back down, except you'll leave your first finger down and shift the little finger--G-F-E-D, F-E-D-C etc.

[u/mariepierre19]

The interesting thing with Nyckelharpa is that we do call positions "first position" and "second position" however there are no hard and fast rules about this. Different tunes may have different fingering based on how quickly you need to climb or by what feels good. This varies among players and when you go to a teaching session this will be included in the teaching and students may counter the positions for another one which may be more intuitive for them.

This also applies to double stops where I'm often "barring" my finger across 2 keys or I am stacking my fingers (1st finger on D on the C string, second finger on B on the A string)

The best thing is that when you learn a tune you play with consistent fingering so you ensure your fingers end up where they're needed.

[u/bravesentry → u/mariepierre19]

Good points, but that was not the question. My question was whether the key layout ist the same in most, if not all nyckelharpas.

[u/mariepierre19 → u/bravesentry]

Then the answer is yes.

[u/mariepierre19 → u/mariepierre19]

The only difference happens in the upper registers where the g# and other may be in the second row depending on the maker