hear the harp of Väinämöinen...

My First Kantele book cover

This is the book for you, if you're teaching yourself how to play the kantele.

Can't read music? Don't worry! You'll learn how. Each lesson includes a simple explanation of whatever you need to know to complete the lesson. Learn at your own pace, mastering each lesson before you continue.

Those who can read music concentrate on learning how to play melodies and chords and practicing exercises, using standard fingering.

Videos and sound files make it easy to learn. Quizzes test what you know and an Answer Key is included so you can check your answers. The second part of the book consists of 46 songs written for 5 and 10 string kanteles.


Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Day 1: Tuning Your Kantele Click on title to see a page from this chapter.
  • Day 2: Let’s Get Ready to Play
  • Day 3: Staffs
  • Day 4: Measures
  • Quiz
  • Day 5: Pitch
  • Day 6: Clefs
  • Day 7: Ledger Lines
  • Quiz
  • Day 8: Note Values
  • Day 9: Rests
  • Day 10: Time Signatures
  • Test Your Knowledge
  • Day 11: Counting Click on title to see a page from this chapter.
  • Day 12: Tempo
  • Day 13: Accidentals
  • Quiz
  • Day 14: Key Signatures
  • Day 15: Intervals Click on title to see a page from this chapter.
  • Day 16: Scales
  • Day 17: Chords
  • Day 18: Dynamics
  • Day 19: Articulation Marks
  • Day 20: Ottava
  • Day 21: Other Types of Repeats
  • Test Your Knowledge


  • Answer Key


  • Music For Five String Kanteles


  • Iltasaunan Saapuessa
  • Vuotas, Katsahan Tupoa
  • Kalevala Melody
  • Väinämöinen’s Birth
  • Ukko Dancing
  • A Song For Ruth
  • The Planting Song Click on title to see this page.
  • Run to Your Fate
  • Waltz From Lapinlahti
  • Nannon’s Song
  • Rykälinnun Laulu
  • The Harvestman
  • Little Bouncing Ball
  • Uppi í Háa Hamrinum
  • Greeting the Sun
  • The Baby Crocodile
  • Magic Sampo
  • Aiken Drum
  • Ode to Joy
  • Lightly Row
  • Kvadalog
  • Blow, Boys, Blow


  • Music For Ten String Kanteles


  • Dance Tunes from Lieksa
  • Blue Stockings
  • Mene Vaan
  • In Fields of White
  • Ei Oo Poika Lepänpölkky
  • The Juniper is a Beautiful Tree
  • Kamanat Kohottukohot
  • Strawberry Pie
  • Onko Teiän Sulhollanne
  • A Frog Went Courtin'
  • I’ll Sing You a Dream
  • Linnut ne Pihapuissa
  • My Darling
  • A Waltz For Sylvia
  • Aino's Lament
  • Aino's Complaint
  • Kyllikki’s Song
  • Lament
  • Ballad of the Red Maid
  • Calling the Trees
  • Isontalon Antti
  • The Night We Said Goodbye
  • A Song For Lost Kin
  • She Moved Through the Fair
  • About the Author