Study Plan

Welcome to your study plan for learning the Morin Khuur

First of all, this study plan was created to guide you, step by step, through our courses and is composed of 9 steps:

  • The STEPS 1 to 3 will prepare you with all the essential knowledge required to get accustomed to your instrument.
    They cover its origin and history, its spirituality and symbolism, its traditions and worship, its maintenance, its playing position as well as give you recommendations for good practices. They also covers three ways to hold the bow presented on three different bows. Finally they will explain you in detail how to position your hand and fingers on the strings in order to play your first notes.
  • The STEPS 4 to 8 will provide you with intermediate and advanced knowledge specific to the traditional playing of the Morin Khuur.
    They cover the accents on the bow, the vibrato, the harmonics, the thumb playing, the glissando and its variations (gulsuulakhshuvtrakh, and shigshikh) and finally the tsokhilgo -which is close to the hammering technique- as well as its variations (dan tsokhilgosul tsokhilgodavkhar tsokhilgokholboo tsokhilgotsavchikhnyatslakh, and shigshikh).
  • The FINAL STEP will present you the intangible cultural heritage (tatlaga, bii and urtiin duu melodies) of the Morin Khuur.

We usually suggest to go through the steps 1 to 3 assiduously and carefully as they will help you build a solid base for your future learning!
Finally, to get the best of the final step –which is learning melodies of the Morin Khuur-, we advise to go through the preceding steps (5 to 8), even if lightly, as it will make you familiar with the vocabulary and the various techniques used to play the melodies.


Note that the step 1 to 8 are all included in our
Core Knowledge bundle available for purchase here.


Now, before getting started, find below two charts that will help you putting marks on the neck of your morin khuur as well as a notes chart that will help you while using a tuning app.

Notes Location Measurements

Notes Location Measurements
Chart with the measurements for the two bridges distance as well as for the location of the different notes.
The notes shown are for the commonly used F/Bb or Fa/Sib.

Enharmonic Equivalent Notes

Enharmonic Equivalent Notes
Chart that should help you find your way during the tuning of your instrument, if you are not too familiar with the note names and order.

Also note that the position of bridge is usually around 10 to 11cm from the top of the box, and around 1cm above the position of the sound post.
For wooden instrument, it is usually around the middle of the F-hole shape.


STUDY PLAN


Step 1: Fundamentals of the Morin Khuur
25 lessons, 228mn, 70€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the background knowledge required to start off your learning on the right foot.

It covers various subjects such as symbolism, spirituality, traditions, worship, history, folklore as well as more practical topics such as maintenance (change the strings, set up the sound post, …), playing position, or structure of your practice.
It is a great way to get started especially while waiting for your instrument to arrive to your home.


Step 2: How to Hold the Bow
5 lessons, 77mn, 25€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the knowledge required to hold the bow of the Morin Khuur.

It covers three ways (traditional, mixed, modern) to hold the bow which are presented on three various bows (Ikel bow, traditional and modern Morin Khuur bows) to give you all the needed information, regardless of the type of bow that you actually use.


Step 3: How to Play Notes + Bii Scale
10 lessons, 70mn, 30€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the knowledge required to properly play notes on the Morin Khuur.

It contains detailed information, explanation and demonstration of the hand position as well as finger position and pressure in order to play notes properly.


Step 4: How to Play Accents on the Bow
6 lessons, 56mn, 25€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the knowledge required to play accents on the bow of the Morin Khuur.

It covers the two main bow accents (jumpy and wavy or whipping accent) that you will need to perform most of the Morin Khuur pieces. Each accents (jumpy and wavy or whipping accent) are divided into two videos. The first one being an explanation on how to play the accent, and the second one being a set of various exercises.


Step 5: How to Play With Vibrato
4 lessons, 53mn, 25€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the knowledge required to play with vibrato on the Morin Khuur.

It contains an in-depth explanations with various points of view to make your understanding of the vibrato’s movement as clear and efficient as possible. It also highlights the most common mistakes and how to avoid them as well as some advice and recommendations to get the best of your vibrato.


Step 6: How to Play Harmonics + Thumb Playing + Fourth Octave
6 lessons, 63mn, 25€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the knowledge required to play natural and artificial harmonic on the Morin Khuur.

It contains detailed information and demonstrations on how to play natural and artificial harmonics on the Morin Khuur. It will also give you information on the thumb playing technique as well as the fourth octave of the instrument (artificial harmonics), which is mostly used in modern composition.


Step 7: How to Play Glissando and Its Variations
6 lessons, 65mn, 25€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the knowledge required to play glissando as well as its variations on the Morin Khuur.

It contains detailed information and demonstrations on how to play glissando as well as its variations (gulsuulakhshuvtrakh, and shigshikh) on the Morin Khuur.
It will also give you information on how and when it is suitable to use them.


Step 8: How to Play Tsokhilgo and Its Variations
8 lessons, 72mn, 25€

You have not yet enrolled in this course.

This course will provide you with all the knowledge required to play tsokhilgo -which is close to the hammering technique- as well as its variations on the Morin Khuur.

This course contains detailed information and demonstrations on how to play tsokhilgo -which is close to the hammering technique- as well as its variations (dan tsokhilgosul tsokhilgodavkhar tsokhilgokholboo tsokhilgotsavchikhnyatslakh, and shigshikh) on the Morin Khuur.
It will also give you information on how and when it is suitable to use them.


Step 9: Learn the Morin Khuur cultural heritage

Now that you went through all the theory knowledge,
you are ready to become an intangible cultural heritage bearer and learn the tunes of the Morin Khuur.

Tatlaga

Urtiin Duu

Coming soon…

Melody of Bii


Happy practice and have fun!