Bandura Help, Any Bandurist on the forums?

So I just picked this Bandura up today...


It has 52 strings, and its missing 3 lol...

So, If anyone has information about this crazy instrument, im wondering what I should be tuning the 12 bass strings to, and How I tune the other 40 strings, and what key do I tune them too? Im pretty excited to get this thing playing, but it is confusing as fuck. So any help much appreciated!

Also... Where the fuck do I get strings for this thing anyways!?

~China~

 

You will just have to buy singles in the gauges you need. Nobody's going to have sets.

 

Thats what I figured, I could probably use regular guitar strings hey? except I notice that instead of the little circle piece on the end of the string it is just a simple loop, like on mandolin strings. I could probably use mandolin strings for the the higher rhythm strings too maybe...

This instrument is confusing man, And alot of the information I find on it is in Ukrainian, go figure haha. Also if im tuning down chromatically from C# is the nect note a C or a B?

 

Cool, kind of a a big harp-thingy... lol, looks like you're gonna need to getcha a tuning hammer. Watch the tension if you don't know the tuning, don't wanna break it.

wiki:

More pics! I want to see the back

 

Yeah good point about the tension. Thats why im not touching the tuning till I figure out exactly what im doing. Also I think I need to tune this type of Bandura chromatically in the G major scale, because its a smaller version of the concert bandura. But I still dont know where to start, Il upload some more pictures in a bit so you can see the back and tuning system, its pretty funky.

I also found someone in my town that is offering lessons for 35 an hour, Which includes learning the Bandura and music theory, sound like an okay price? would any of you pay that?

 

I think you are mixing terms here...

You need to tune it Diatonically to a G major scale (1 sharp) which would be starting on the lowest note, G A B C D E F#G and so on. That is a Diatonic G-scale

Chromatically (starting on G) would be G G# A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G...

Wiki did say they added some chromatic strings in the 20's, it's likely they added those strings to the larger concert model, prolly not your smaller model. Just a guess, you'll find out on your first lesson no doubt.

35$ an hour is not unreasonable for a teacher for any instrument, definetly worth at least a few lessons to get you going...

Good luck, looks like a lotta fun! :2thumbsup: