Kantele

A PSALTERY dating from at least the 11th century. It is the national instrument of Finland and mentioned in the KALEVALA. The instrument has a trapezoidal shape. Originally the four horsehair strings were tuned to the scale G-A-B♭-C-D, but the instrument was later fitted with a variable number of metal strings. The kantele is held in the lap and played with bare fingers.

There are numerous related instrument in Eastern Europe, such as the Russian GUSLI, Estonian kannel, Latvian kokle, and Lithuanian kanklės.