Information/FAQ for Beginning Harp Players

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Articles and tips for beginning harpist

Celtic Harp FAQ:
Lots of info about Celtic harps, types, wood, history, rental, buying, finding a teacher, tips for beginners, amplification, what to charge, playing in public.

The Folk Harp:

By Annie Walker, talented member of Phoenix and Wilderwood.

Harp FAQ:

Compilation of various sources garnered from the harp mailing list at harp@sequent.com. Some info outdated.

The Harp Haven:

Lots of useful info and links, including several articles specifically geared toward beginning harpists. Some great basic info.

Harper's Hand Hints:

Monthly tips and suggestions for the student harpist.

Harp Information:

Part of Dragonflower Music website. Info about different types of harps, including a sample photo of each.

Locksley's E-Z Harp Method:

By Joe Bethancourt. Introduction to Celtic harp. " It is not meant to teach everything there is to know about harps, harpers and harping, but simply to get you started in the right direction with a minimum of fuss and bother." A wealth of useful tips and resources.

Make a Custom Harp Case:

By Jaye n'haNaomi.

Stephanie Curcio's Lesson of the Month:

See the rest of her site for other useful info as well as pedagogical materials.

Sylvia Woods Harp Center FAQ:

Useful FAQ for beginners. Check out the rest of the site for harp-related services and products.

Talis and Harp: FAQ:

By Talis Kimberley, who built her own harp from a kit. Answers some frequently asked questions from beginners.

Harp care tips

Harp Care Hints:
From the William Rees Instruments website. What to do when your new harp arrives, tuning hints, preventing cracking, tuning a sharping lever, protecting the finish. Also has a number of useful articles ranging from preventing harp-related injuries, to types of harps and strings, to Q&A. Also see their 911 section.

Tuning Your Harp

There are several possibilities for tuning your harp, according to the members of Harplist. Most assume that you already have a chromatic tuner that has an input jack. Here are some of the suggestions:

-- Get a pick-up that plugs into your tuner. You can get an acoustic guitar pick-up at most music supply stores. I bought a Matrix Acoustic Guitar Tuner Pickup, which has a suction cup that I attach to my soundboard. Many harp players also recommended clip-on pick-ups, or wire pick-ups.

Sources:

Stephanie Curcio: sells a tuning wire on her Web site. One user says she just hangs the wire inside her soundbox. For the lowest wires, she holds the wire against the soundboard.

Sylvia Woods Harp Center: has tuners and pickups.

Thormahle Harps: have microphone clips that plug into your tuner and then clip onto your harp. You can clip it on the T-brace or into one of the sound holes in the back.

-- Plug a microphone into your tuner, then place the microphone inside your soundbox.

-- Tune one string by pitchpipe or tuning fork, then tune the rest of the strings harmonically. You have to have developed a pretty good ear for this.

-- Also see these hints from the William Rees Web site.

Harp clipart

Music clipart: part of About.com

Victorian Clipart: angel with harp

World of Celtic Art