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New to the Harp
Maybe your child announced at dinner last night that they want to play the harp. How exciting! But now you find yourself wondering if this is even possible and you might have questions about the instrument itself. How does the harp work? Do harps come in different sizes? How do you tune a harp? Below you will find information about the mechanics of the instrument, renting or purchasing a harp, and caring for a harp. Hopefully this information will give you a thorough overview of the instrument and what might come up in future years. If your child decides to pursue playing the harp, a harp teacher would be happy to provide more specifics, such as a recommendation for a specific harp to suit your child, a path for study, and so on.
Harp Basics
Let’s start with talking about what exactly a harp is. Everyone has some sort of image in their mind, perhaps an angel complete with a halo and a harp, or a woman in a ball gown seated elegantly with a harp, or maybe you’re a big fan of Harpo Marx.
Here I am (in a ball gown)
at age 16.
Actually the basic definition of a harp is quite simple. A harp is a frame with strings stretched across it. When you pluck the strings, they create sound. You could make your own harp out of a shoebox and some rubber bands, but it wouldn’t sound like much. When you have a proper harp,
the strings form a scale, the same as the white keys on a piano: C D E F G A B (or Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si), which repeat over and over for higher or lower notes. Harp strings are color-coded as a visual reference, one of the few instruments to use color for guidance. All of the C strings are red and all of the F strings are black or blue. Harpists only use four fingers to play: their thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger, with both their right and left hands.
Harpo Marx, who actually played really well. His playing is rather
unorthodox, since he was mainly self-taught.
Classical harpists don't use their little finger as it’s too short and awkward. You can see my hands on the color-coded strings in the picture to the right. Neither pinky is touching a string, they're just tucked in.
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If you'd like to see some of the basics of playing a harp in action, you can view a series of videos I put together on my informational harp website, harpinsideout.com.
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Harp Basics: Lever Harps
Many people, even other professional musicians that I chat with, don’t realize that there are two different types of harps: lever and pedal harps. Although they are both harps, there are some substantial differences between the two types of instruments. Let's discuss levers harps first.
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Lever harps are also frequently called Celtic harp or folk harps. These harps can be quite small, between 3 and 5 feet tall. They generally have 22 to 38 strings, a 3 to 5 octave range. The name lever harp comes about because the strings are equipped with individual levers along the top of the harp. On the piano you have two rows of keys, one of white keys (naturals) and one of black
Here's a photo of a lever harp where you can clearly see the lever at the top of each string. (Click to enlarge.)
keys (sharps and flats). The black keys are a bit higher or lower in sound from the neighboring white keys. On the harp, there are still naturals, sharps and flats, but there are not two rows of strings. Instead, you only have one row of strings, but each string can be altered to a second position using a lever, so that each string makes two sounds. The levers create sharps and flats.
Because this type of harp is smaller, less expensive, and more transportable than a pedal harp, most students begin by playing a lever harp. Some play lever harps for their entire career. If you were to go see a professional Celtic harpist perform, they would perform on a lever harp. Other students, however, eventually choose to switch to a pedal harp.
Harp Basics: Pedal Harps
Pedal harps are large, sometimes gilded with gold, and what you see on stage with a professional orchestra. Pedal harps have 40 to 47 strings and are around 5 ½ or 6 feet tall. For someone who wishes to pursue classical music seriously, they eventually become a necessity. Pedal harps are complex mechanical instruments. First of all, while lever harps have two positions for each string, pedal harps have three positions for each string: flat, natural and sharp, or more simply, low, middle and high sounds. Having three positions for each string gives you more options. In musical terms, the lever harp is limited in the number of keys it can play in, but the pedal harp can play in all twenty-four keys.
Most pedal harps are about six feet tall
and weigh around seventy-five pounds.
both of your feet. From a coordination standpoint, it's in the same class as the drum set, the organ, and the pedal steel guitar, all of which also use both hands and both feet.
Advanced classical music, whether it’s written as a solo piece or as part of an ensemble, is written specifically for the pedal harp. You need to have all 47 strings, be able to play in all 24 keys, and have the ability to change between sharps and flats quickly in order to play this music. Most easy classical harp music doesn’t make the same demands, so this can be played on a lever harp. If you begin on a lever harp, you might play this for several years before your skills increase to the point where your music requires a pedal harp. Since pedal harps are big instruments, students also must also be physically large enough to play one. Many students switch sometime in middle school or high school. Students who wish to pursue a music major in college are expected to be playing a pedal harp before they begin their college careers.
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If you're interested in knowing even more about how harps work, I have in-depth videos about that on harpinsideout.com
Here I am conducting a harp ensemble rehearsal. You can see that there are many different sizes and styles of harps. Most of the harps in the front row are lever harps and the larger pedal harps are in the back row.
Finding a Harp: Renting a Harp
Most local music stores rent and sell a wide variety of instruments, but frequently harps are not included. However, there are harp centers, which rent and sell only harps, scattered throughout the United States. If you are lucky enough to be close to one, this can be a great option. They have many different styles and sizes of harps and frequently they offer options such as renting-to-own, or trading up to a bigger size as your child grows. Students sometimes travel a few hours to the closest harp center, or even have harps shipped to them.
Rentals can also be found through private individuals. Many harp teachers have harps that they personally rent out, or might know of a professional or another student with an extra harp to rent. Usually this is pretty simple, just agreeing on a fee and possibly a deposit. However, most individuals don’t offer perks like trade ins, or rent-to-own possibilities.
Harp Centers:
Finding a Harp: Buying a Harp
Some people choose to purchase an instrument, either right from the start, or maybe after their child has been playing for a while. It’s possible to purchase new instruments directly from harp makers and have them shipped to you. There are also used harps available. Some of the harp centers mentioned above sell used harps, and some harp makers sell used harps in addition to their new models. There are also classifieds ads, and Craigslist and eBay both do quite a bit of business on the used harp front. In general, harps do not get better with age, unlike some other string instruments. New or fairly new harps tend to be more reliable than older harps, as harps can develop structural problems with age.
One question to consider when looking into buying a harp is the lever or pedal harp question. It might be financially advantageous for you to purchase rather than rent a lever harp, but how soon might you consider switching to a pedal harp? Would it be better just to wait for a bit and move up to a pedal harp as soon as possible, or will it be quite a while before your child would be ready to consider making a switch? Your harp teacher will be able to provide guidance in this. Harps resell pretty well, so if you do end up buying an instrument and then eventually needing to buy a second one, you will probably be able to sell your first instrument without too much difficulty.
To throw some very general numbers out there, new lever harps range in price from approximately $1,000 to $6,000 depending on the size and quality of the instrument. Used lever harps start around $500 for something quite small. New pedal harps usually are upwards of $15,000. Prices for used pedal harps start lower, although sometimes a surprisingly low price means that it is an older instrument that might need extensive work done. For any harp, there is a really wide range in quality, size, and age, as well as additional factors to consider, such as warranties, shipping costs, and potential repairs or maintenance needed. As with any major purchase, it’s good to assess what your needs are, both immediate and in the future, and then try to decide what would be best for your personal situation.
Classified Ads:
Finding a Harp: Accessories
Many families ask me what they might need in addition to a harp, which is a good question. You’ll need a music stand, so that you can see your music properly while you’re playing. Wire folding music stands are inexpensive and easy to purchase from any music store or online. You could also consider a professional quality stand, such as a Manhasset stand.
Harpists also always sit down to play, so you will need a seat of some kind. Many people sit on a bench or stool specifically designed with the harp in mind. These are adjustable to a variety of heights. Keyboard benches provide a less expensive option. Some beginning harpists might start out sitting on an ordinary dining room chair, or a stool they have at home. Figuring out the proper height depends on the height of your harp and your personal height, but regardless of this, a hard, flat surface is always better than an upholstered couch or armchair.
Harp Accessories:
A nice keyboard bench. Because the height
is adjustable, it works well
for the harp.
Taking Care of Your Harp
Once you have a beautiful harp in your home, you naturally want to take care of it. First of all, you want to find a good place for it in your house. A harp is sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, so it’s important to put it in a room where this is well controlled. If you’re physically uncomfortable with the temperature and humidity level, then your harp is definitely uncomfortable. You want to avoid putting it directly in front of a heating vent or in a sunny window. Take care not to allow your harp to be in extreme temperatures, such as leaving your harp in the car on a hot summer day while you run into the store, or sitting in a cold garage overnight in the middle of winter.
Dust your harp regularly using a clean, dry cloth and avoid cleaning products. Wash your hands before playing to keep the strings and wood clean. Taking care of your harp is important, but remember an instrument is not a priceless piece of art meant to be admired from a safe distance. Don't worry so much that you're afraid to play your harp!
Taking Care of Your Harp: Tuning
Unlike a piano, where you hire a professional tuner once a year, harpists must tune their own harps, just like guitar players, but with considerably more strings. Here’s how it works: Each string is wound around a tuning peg at the top of the harp. A small tool, called a tuning key, fits onto these pegs. The tuning key works like a wrench and allows you turn the peg and string and make the sound higher or lower, so that you can tune each string individually.
You might be thinking, "Ok, so the tuning key allows you to make each string higher and lower. But how do you know when it’s high enough or low enough to be in tune?" An electronic tuner is really useful for this, as it tells you when the string is at just the right point. You can get an electronic tuner as a free or inexpensive app or you can buy an electronic tuner at any music store. These are not instrument-specific and simply need to be a chromatic tuner.
A standard t-shaped tuning key.
Your harp should come with a tuning key, but if you happen to lose it, you can easily buy a new one. Be sure to buy a tuning key recommended or sold by your harp’s manufacturer, as tuning keys are not universal and you need one that fits your harp.
​One thing to keep in mind is that tuning is a skill. Just like with learning to play the harp, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Some beginning students find tuning to be straightforward right from the start. Others find it more difficult, but after some practice and coaching from a teacher, everyone gets better at it and soon it becomes routine.
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You can learn more about tuning through these videos on harpinsideout.com, my informational harp website.
Taking Care of Your Harp: Replacing Strings
Harp strings are made out of different materials, usually nylon, gut, and wire. (And yes, by gut I really do mean all natural animal gut. Actually harp string manufacturers also make tennis racket strings.) Harps frequently have a combination of the different string materials. Because of the intense pressure on the strings, they tend to break from time to time. This does not mean that there’s something wrong with your harp or how you care for it, but simply that the string is no longer able to withstand the pressure. All harps break strings. You might go for six months without breaking a string, and then break several strings in a few days, especially if the weather changes suddenly. New strings can be ordered from a harp company and most harp manufacturers provide helpful information about the type of strings that your harp needs.
Once you have a new string, you need to put it on the harp. This involves tying a knot at one end, threading it up through the instrument, and winding it around the peg. It takes several days for new strings to stretch out and stay in tune, so it’s normal for the new string to need lots of tuning at first. Professional harpists replace all of their strings about once a year so that they are always in top-notch condition.
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If you're interested in learning more about everything related to string changing, once again, lots more information about changing strings is available on harpinsideout.com
Full-size harp on a harp cart ready
to load into a minivan.
Harp Moving
If your harp is four feet tall or less, moving it is not very difficult. You just need to put the harp in its cover and carry it out to the car. Most harps come with a cover of some sort, but if not, you can purchase one separately. Some people even make their own covers, especially if they have a small instrument. Be sure to place your harp in the car securely, so that it won’t slide around or tip over during the trip. If it’s a very hot or very cold day, let the car run for a few minutes before you put your harp in, so that the temperature won’t be too extreme.
If your harp is in the five to six foot tall range, moving it is a bit more involved. First of all, harps of this size are unwieldy and carrying it may be awkward or difficult. A harp cart, also called a dolly or caddy, is an invaluable tool, so that you can simply roll a harp from the house to the car. Assistance might be needed when going up and down steps. You also need to make sure your car is big enough to fit the harp. SUVs, minivans, and station wagons are all great options. It’s most common to either lay the harp on its side and slide it into the car, usually with the seats folded down to make a flat bed, or to put the harp in on its column, sliding it between seats.
Professional harpists will tell you that moving a harp isn’t too difficult, because when you do it all the time, you develop a system. Someone who changes the oil in their car twice a year will find the process more difficult than someone who is a professional mechanic. If you move your harp all the time, you soon get good at it.
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For more information, I have a set of videos about harp moving available on harpinsideout.com
Finding a Teacher
If you're interested in moving forward, most people begin by finding a teacher and then look for a harp based on the teacher’s recommendation. There are a few websites that provide lists of teachers, organized geographically. You might try contacting several teachers in your area to see if you can bring your child for a trial lesson. Attending a performance given by the teacher or a recital of
their students can be a great way to see a bit more of a teacher. Because music lessons are almost always one-on-one sessions, it’s important to find a teacher who is not only musically excellent, but one who also is a good match for your child’s personality and learning style.
Teacher Lists:
American Harp Society Directory of Teachers
Harp Connection National Teachers' Directory
Sylvia Woods Harp Center Harp Teacher List
​Good luck with the harp! Maybe before long you’ll find yourself with a harp in your living room and a budding performer on your hands, rather than just dinner table conversations about possibilities.
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Without a doubt, the cutest harp I have ever personally seen. It was fuzzy to the touch!
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