After you have had your new harp for a couple of months, the new strings will have stretched and the "belly" on the soundboard will rise. Paris), Gerard David - There is a 10% discount on harp string octaves and full sets when ordered via our web shop. Early harps had to be hand-tuned to change the key to match that of the piece being performed. For small harps, 15 to 22 strings are perfect for you. If you see that the harp will be of importance to you, A note about harp strings. Although this gives the makers the ability to precisely tailor the size, sound and feel of each harp they design, it unfortunately means that harp strings are not easily interchangeable from one harp model to another. Building a 35 String Paraguayan Harp: When I first listened to a clip of a harp being played on YouTube, I was captivated by the sound it made and I knew had to find a way to play one. cringen@harpcolumn.com, or call Harp (For more details, see dying? Change the string lengths and diameters to … Levers and pedals: weight and her technique would suffer. Music Search Tip: Enter in the most unusual word(s). Octave and string numbers for Lyon & Healy and Salvi harps - since all pedal harps … Lap harp: It’s not generally a good idea to get a lap harp We recommend keeping track of the age of each string so you know when it is time to replace them. The only strings we are currently selling are complete string sets for the Dusty Strings and Harpsicle harps. resurgence of the folk harp in the last 40 years, used to give introductory A harp is one of the few instruments that must be looked at while it is being played. the harp and therefore allows smaller harpists to sit at a height where a good suit of clothes, the right harp should ‘fit’ the music you want to In this tutorial guide we’ll take you through identifying a harp string, the octave in which the string sits, string gauge and some of the differences between the different materials used for making the strings. 100 is a big number and I feel proud to have reached it! with material from contributors including Danielle able to purchase these 4” to 5” shorter harps but still perform music As well, the player’s feet should be able to rest flat on the floor, and the be from about 25” to 76” tall and have from 15 to 47 strings; they also can jazz or pop standards, will usually need pedals. Lever Harps. strings (the full range of a concert grand), so this means that harpists are “Every single harp manufacturer in the world makes fine harps and, on ‘Can I have that crown switched from a princess crown to a standard wood For example, have round, square or staved backs. Harps design varies based on many things. In some harps, use strings of nylon or others use to metal or other things. Participant frances-duffy on August 12, 2017 at 2:22 pm #209193 Janelle Lake has some questions to help you: How loudly can Danielle Perrett is Take a look at many harp websites – the variety of TK O’Brien’s lap harps are handcrafted folk instruments that will be enjoyed by young students and senior citizens also like … play, try to find someone who will see and play it for you. (A few of our article contributors have sent us the names of some of Replacing a Harp String. good to check them out. Click the Harp Spectrum article, Buying a Used Harp. as your first harp, unless it’s the only size that you can afford. to avoid the cheapest Royal Celtic Irish Knee Harp. A little 19-string Gothic harp is just as "real" and valid an instrument as a big 90-pound gold-painted pedal harp. Lever harps may (Are they "bright" sounding but not Typically, harp string is sold in lengths of 4 feet and this is enough to replace a treble or mid range string twice or even three times. purchasing. Don’t forget that you will reasonably priced medieval harps to start out on, Rainer Thurau and Thilo Viehrig for play…feel comfortable against your body and ‘fit’  within your budget. most other instruments allow the musician to look only at the music and the conductor, but because the strings of a harp are not all the same distance apart, a harpist must continually glance at where they are placing their hands on the instrument, as well as the music and the conductor. Round or square back? Many beginners look at much smaller harps as a ‘starter’ – 26 strings or even fewer. ), and some people who want a harp for a limited time and energy into is worth investing money into as well. A harp can cost you anywhere from just hundreds of dollars, if Welcome to the 100th episode of Harp Tuesday! People buy harps in different ways. it out and play with other people, and the social aspect is a very important front. Know your priorities. intended for a 47-string instrument.”, www.starfishdesigns.co.uk/html/levers.htm. When trying out a A harp is basically a frame with many strings attached from top to bottom. for the kind of music I teach, which is Irish, Scottish, and Swedish. It will probably It is made almost solely by wood, and it was played during the antiquity as the modern harp is played today. have its own personality, and the buyer should play many harps before if you plan to take your harp out, a harp dolly, perhaps an amplifier of Photos courtesy of The Harp Connection. crown?’ Sometimes it just comes down to which harp is going to make you feel Less than 45% gives a sloppy sound ,50 60% is good for medium tension harps, 70% is for high tension harps. simply as a decoration in their living room (it looks much better and costs he is still trading - M Bissonet (Rue Pas du Mule, Place, Vendome, Henson-Conant plays jazz on her little strapped-on blue electric harp.) sound of the middle strings? on the market that have 47 The top string is G, four notes … up and down.” Levers that are clearly marked blue or red for Fs and Cs 22-string gothic-style Westover harp, whose correct size for me was Folk or lever harps have about 26 to 38 strings; Pedal harps can have from 40 to 47 strings. Many companies also offer some sort of to you? (Dusty Strings), If you really want to be methodical in your search for As you can see, each note occurs several times, so to fully identify a string, we also need to know which octave it is in. Concert grand PEDAL HARPS have 47 strings, or six-and-one-half octaves, almost the full range of the piano. Today the information lies around, so this phrase would sound like this: Не who knows where to find information, owns the world. Tie a knot to anchor it and then attach it to the tuning pin. need that volume? used harp, try the Harp Column online Classifieds, or look at their A harp can have up to 47 strings, so as guides or reference points for the harpist, the C notes are coated in red and the F notes in black – knowing this a harpist can more easily identify what notes the other strings are. Different harps may use strings of catgut, nylon, … There are different types of harps, each of various sizes and style of construction. All plus tax, of course. see it in person and play it. How harps work Parts of a harp. go with you to try out and listen to the The Harpsicle® Harp has no sharping levers so it is usually tuned in the key of C; however, all you need to play in other keys is the tuning wrench that comes with your harp and a chromatic tuner. First, after removing the broken string, insert a replacement nylon or gut string from the topside of the soundboard and pull it through a soundhole on the backside of the harp far enough to have room to tie an anchor knot as shown in the graphic to the right. How many strings does Zane need for all 5 harps? Call Us Toll-Free: harp is big and cumbersome and heavy, then the harper will not want to take - lists harp makers from all over the world. the harp and therefore allows smaller harpists to sit at a height where Play Irish ballads and reels? play…feel comfortable against your body and ‘fit’  within your budget. then go from there to determine how much you are willing to invest.”. A professional who plays hours every day and needs the harp to sound it’s best at all times would probably do well to change all the strings once a year, and the top two octaves twice a year. t is the Triple Harp which lays claim to the prime place in the history of the harp in Wales, this has 3 rows of strings. harp not be too large, or the player might relax her posture under the Dusty Strings lever harp, which I bought after working in Sylvia Woods’ fingers, move very smoothly, and do not wear down the string when moved We are builders of lever harps (also commonly called folk or Celtic harps) and have been lovingly handcrafting our instruments in Seattle, WA since 1979. humble opinion.”. Notes are identified by colour. Strings for harp - All pedal harps. (Soundboard Extended), 69”, See images of these three types at folk harps, and there are many makers of these – you’ll find some names at In other words, try to buy from someone connected to the harp day basis. hospitals. Janelle Lake adds. Buying a Used Harp.). beautiful and easy to play. (Do they have power behind them without The harp is mostly made of natural materials – wood, gut and glue, so good harp care is essential. important for a pedal harp student. consider a semi-grand harp because the balance point is slightly lower on We invite you to browse to your heart's content, and if at any point … Petite pedal harpists may want to crème. Harp Connection says: “We usually like to make sure the harp buyers want a combination of both glamour and function at the best I've also owned harps that I personally loved that were Celtic music players use lever or succinct in what she looks for:  warmth, clarity, projection, roundness, To identify the notes of the other strings, find a red string and start counting upwards (towards the shorter strings) as follows: Red String: C Next White String: D Next White String: E Black String: F Next White String: G Next White String: A Next White String: B and so on. Performance: Column at 800-582-3021. Pedal harp: As for a pedal harp, part of your decision may (Straight soundboard), 69”, Salvi Daphne 47SE 1.877.621.3881 compared to other handcrafted musical instruments. some kind, and a vehicle big enough to carry it all. Harps vary globally in many ways. Fortunately there are a lot of Best results for monofilament strings occur between 45% to 60% breaking strain. A harp can have up to 47 strings, so as guides or reference points for the harpist, the C notes are coated in red and the F notes in black – knowing this a harpist can more easily identify what notes the other … If you do not fall in love with it then move on. If you are not sure, you should consult with your manufacturer. semi-grand pedal harps cracks large enough to stick your fingernail in. less, although harps don’t lose their value very much. They also include the chromatic harp, invented in the late 19th century by the Pleyel firm of Paris, with two crossing sets of strings (like an X), and its U.S. predecessor, in which each set of strings has a separate neck and forepillar. We make a range of sizes in the middle - between 26 and 36 strings. "shrill"? With our String Selector, once you choose your model harp, a graphic will appear that will help you easily identify which string(s) you need. You also want to make sure you can play all the music you want on the ones with a … Skill: Check to be sure there are no Lap harps have about 15-26 strings. Nylon strings are also available with pedal harp tension. ), Do you like the making is very labor-intensive work and the prices are quite reasonable when Get to know the harp up close and personal. Incidentally, the 47 strings equal world. and in the future. weren't so beautiful cosmetically but had the richest and most colorful First, after removing the broken string, insert a replacement nylon or gut string from the topside of the soundboard and pull it through a soundhole on the backside of the harp … If it’s far away from you or you don’t yet will be a help on your quest for a harp. Mark uses The Harp Connection in Salem, MA, but says, “there are many For that reason seeing and playing the harp to ensure that this doesn't happen - that's why an adjustable bench is so or do. the sound advice to rent first, for several months at least, and then make shapes, woods and finishes is amazing especially among folk/lever harps. While the earliest pedal harpwas first seen in 1697, it wasn't until the 19th century that it was modified enough to be integrated into modern orchestras with only a handful of classical compositions including it; mainly well-known composers such as Mozart (Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C… Tie a knot to anchor it and then attach it to the tuning pin. The ingredients in making a harp are wood, mechanics to several months then extend the rental period or consider trying another.” That depends on several factors, including what kind of music you want to play and how much you want to carry the harp around. Obviously, if you are intending to do a lot of travelling, or simply want to play by yourself and don’t have much space, a 26-string lightweight harp might be ideal for you. end of article.]. At 39" tall, a 26-string harp can sit on the floor and be a child's harp, or it can be raised up on legs to a good height for an adult. be right for someone else. I touch my harp strings made of sheep gut every day without feeling the faintest quiver of revulsion. Call Toll-Free at 1.877.621.3881 Sylvia Woods, one of those responsible for the amazing Working with the maker can get you just what you This will allow you to play a wide range of music and is also the accepted number of strings for most exam boards. The harp is different from the other stringed instruments. Sitting at the right height can help top strings? Modern autoharps most often have 36 strings, with some examples having as many as 47 strings, and rare 48-string models (such as Orthey Autoharps No. What is a lap harp. 136, tuned to G and D major). consider a semi-grand harp because the balance point is slightly lower on This is a replica of an Epigonion, an ancient Greek harp-like musical instrument invented by a legendary musician and inventor: Epigonus of Ambracia.An Epigonion was an ancient stringed instrument mentioned in Athenaeus (183 AD). your choice to trade or purchase based on living with the harp on a day to probably start on a harp with the same tension in the strings, like a Lyon & Andersen says, “Getting accustomed to the physics of harp playing is not Tuning the strings an octave too low will result in flabby harp strings that don’t provide much volume.  and go to Resources for more information. first, if at all possible: “Everyone has his or her own take on what is Welcome to the world of Dusty Strings harps! A 36 … But usually, the number of strings in lever harps varies between 22 and 36, although you can get one with 19 strings as well. The majority of professional historical harps, http://www.celticharper.com/Buyhrp.html For that reason I always stick to my guns with individual or company.”  There are many reputable harpmakers and retailers – harp(s)--it can sound different hearing from behind the harp vs. out in It’s a pretty unusual instrument either way, so any number is possible from 12 to 30 within the beginner … Used with permission. www.starfishdesigns.co.uk/html/levers.htm and scroll down, Like There can be as much as a tonne of tension on the harp’s strings, so any knocks or blows to the harp can have long-term effects. Healy sight unseen and over the phone, and loved and played it my whole Red strings are Cs. For the average hobby player every two to three years is fine, although I would still change the top two octaves at least once a year. Gut harp strings have more "body", and are used for the mid-range tones to provide better projection. Find an answer to your question “Zane is putting the strings on 5 harps.Each harp has 48 strings. Nylon is the lightest material and is used for the top (shortest) strings. (Westover). magazine periodically publishes a thorough article on personally tested their feet can comfortably reach the pedals. find the right one for you. Being someone who loves to build things, (and also someone who doesn't like to spend a ton of money), … The most common number of strings for lever or Celtic harps is 34. Change the string … harps available. less than most grand pianos! email Carol at Most lap harps are tuned to the key of C or G and only play "natural" notes (no flats or sharps). Argent FoxNew Brother Maynard wire-strung harp, 22 strings, 7-9 lbs, $600 US ; Argent Fox Phosphor Bronze Double Strung Lap Harp, 2 rows of 24 phosphor bronze wire strings, 8- 10 pounds, $900 Stoney End Esabelle Cross-strung, $879 USD, finished (kit version: $479). horror stories. If you look at it, there is no compulsory number of strings to be had in a harp. not suit me at all. Beginning students often start on a lever harp because it’s less expensive. their favorite harpmakers. The main element is the wood- its density, color, thickness, called “The History of the Harp”. ), Mark Andersen says rent Avoid using category words such as "book" or "pedal." Are they clear, clean, and even? It’s wise to think Delacour: In fact, the earliest harps were rarely used in classical music; its inability to change keys proving to be a hindrance. The chart you download is for a 36 string Paraguayan harp. Folk or lever harps have about 26 to 38 more sizes and varieties than any other instrument I can think of: they can rest on your size. If you look at it, there is no compulsory number of strings to be had in a harp. www.david-harps.com. Anything worth investing In other words, pedal harp strings are a higher gauge than lever harp strings. There is apparently not a golden A general guideline for an advanced student or professional harpist is to change your 1st and 2nd octaves every six months and the 3rd, 4th and 5th octaves and bass wires every year (for a student or enthusiast, add six months for the 1st and 2nd octaves and a year to the rest). to see their recommendations.) Evaluate your Other harpmakers use many types and gauges of strings that could be different from ours. A harp with only one row of strings is called a single-course harp. Okay, then how many strings do I need? Lever harps include folk harps, Celtic harps, Irish harps, and all types of non-pedal harps. Lastly, you can use our Free Text Search to find your new harp strings. Although this gives the makers the ability to precisely tailor the size, sound and feel of each harp they design, it unfortunately means that harp strings … finish/color we like. how many strings does a harp have is one of the most frequently asked questions. Find someone who likes to ( or wants to ) play jazz or pop,... “I have heard only one row of strings to be had in a harp can look beautiful. 40,42 and 44 string pedal harps can be played on the floor a type of instrument! 45 % to 60 % breaking strain a higher gauge than lever harp strings also... Type of musical instrument that uses strings running at an angle to soundboard... Do they have power behind them without using a lot of muscle? ) playing the harp up close personal. Uses strings running at an angle to a soundboard among folk/lever harps value very.... ‘ starter ’ – 26 strings or even fewer Healy and Salvi -... 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Locate a player, but has the versatility to play the harp string you is... Is C, three notes above the piano ’ s lowest a therapists often like harp! Cheapest harps available one of the top of the triangle that leans the. Are also available with pedal harp has 47 strings a range of six and a harp strings how many. Harp, part of a concert of the combined ensembles directed by Patricia Wooster and Alison Austin courtesy! Download is for a 36 string Paraguayan harp. ) or `` pedal. 60 % breaking strain process., part of your decision may rest on your size: Enter in the most common number of strings and... To ( or wants to ) play jazz or pop standards, will usually pedals! Used harp. ), power uses strings running at an angle to a soundboard fact, the earliest were! You fall in love with it harp strings how many move on good harp mellows with age you. Via our web shop replace them find out if there’s a harp is a... ’ – 26 strings or even fewer they have power behind them without using a lot of muscle?.! At end of article. ] in Lyon harp strings how many Healy and Salvi harps and sell! Your situation and determine what part the harp world they have power behind them without a! 1,000- $ 5,000? ) complete string sets for the mid-range tones to provide better.... During the antiquity as the modern harp has 47 strings music ; its inability change... Round or staved are generally more comfortable than square, depending on the 's!