A Guide To The Autoharp - Part 1

In the first installment of the new series we look at the origins of the autoharp and what exactly it is.

Thanks for watching!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• autoharp
• guide
• lesson
• how
• to
• tutorial
• music

[rzimmer1]

gr8 series thanks for sharing!

[mostlythemusic]

@rzimmer1 Thanks, glad you liked them

[XmyAssYTmofo]

Is it true that it's not advised for a common layperson to remove all the strings at one time? Different threads are warning about that sternly.

I came into a Rhythm Band "Port-A-Harp" 15 bar chromatic in great condition except for broken high octave C and F strings. But the thing is incredibly dirty, so dirty that blowing with keyboard cleaner does nothing to remove the baked on dust, and neither does running a micro fiber cloth under the strings.

I really want to clean the scum off it mind.

[mostlythemusic]

@XmyAssYTmofo N.B. Don't be put off by these feat, it's worth giving it a go.. I always change my own strings, and always have.. Albeit the first time I did it, I did a shocking job of putting the strings back on! haha.. You may want to get a copy of The Autoharp Owner's Manual and Jo Ann's video called 'CHANGING A STRING'

Happy 'harping!! :O)

[mostlythemusic]

@XmyAssYTmofo In the video Jo Ann explains the technique for removing strings.. tune them all down slightly, then again, and then slacken them all off slightly till they are completely slack, then you can cut them all off.. As for the series never being finished, Jo Ann has been busy with festivals and making her latest CD but last week she said she will be posting the next part in the series soon.. so stay tuned :O)

[XmyAssYTmofo]

@mostlythemusic Thanks for advice.

Well she abandoned that series after Part 1. But from what she said it seemed she was just having a go at it by gradually loosening them all. And if it imploded so be it I guess.

I only have one of these that I bought on a total whim last Saturday for $75 and lucky to have it, so I'll not take the chance, and rather to lightly moisten and force rags under there to rid it of the backed on dust and my gawd dried sneeze sputum looks to be caked on it, my Lord!

[mostlythemusic]

@XmyAssYTmofo Thanks for the comment/question.. I don't think it's advised that someone who is not used to autoharps remove all the strings at once due to the fact that doing it incorrectly can cause the autoharp body to actually warp and collapse in on itself (not very nice!).. However you CAN do it and there is a video on youtube by Jo Ann Smith (channel: autoharpist) called 'Diatonic Autoharp Conversion 1' which shows you how to do it well.. Check it out :O)

[mostlythemusic]

@LaOtraLeverne Hi, what model of autoharp did you get? I do hope these videos help you. Also, think about subscribing to the Cyberpluckers mailing list (google it) and the Autoharp pages on Facebook (search the word 'autoharp' in the facebook search bar). Thanks for subscribing, and happy 'harping!!

[LaOtraLeverne]

Hey! I just got an autoharp yesterday so I think this would be great help for me :)

[mostlythemusic]

@qiminafix Thanks, glad you like it. It was recorded, edited and uploaded direct from the iPad 2 (using a Samson GoMic to record sound rather than internal mic.)