thanks so much for these videos. I just inherited a 12 chord from the 50's. The same one my mom played while she was pregnant with me. Now with your help I am learning more every day.
Your voice is like a DJ's, beautiful. I loved the way you explained all of this. You just broke it down so simply and thanks for the encouragement. Well done, fantastic presentation.
Obijon2112 she’s a superb tutor, I have personal lessons with her ‘online’ and they are superb, totally geared to the students level, needs and requests. I still come back to watch these though!
LOVE YOU JO ANN. I get my very first mint/aged/used 15 chord harp on Friday WITH like new hardshell case for 100.00 US. I have been waiting about 4 months, and have saved all of your videos. THANK YOU and GOD BLESS for making your instruction free. I am 49 yrs young, have guitar experience, but I know this is the right instrument for me.
I just bought two in a yard sale today a large and a smaller one and these are the first I've seen since my grandmothers some 60plus years ago. I think with your videos I stand a chance of finally learning how to play these. Better late than never Thanks for such well done videos.
Hi Jo: I bought an autoharp maybe 28 years ago but this week when I say your video, it made me want to try to play it now that I am semi retired. Thanks George
I love this video. I bought my first autoharp about 6 years ago and while it was being shipped to my house I watched you over and over and over so when my autoharp got to my house I actually picked it up and started playing it... everyone just looked at me kind of funny. 😊 Thank you so much for teaching me how to play! ♥️
These are wonderful - you're a beautiful teacher. Having been a bluegrass musician in the 70's you have inspired me to take up autoharp. I look forward to hearing more from you - it's beautiful music.
TX< JoAnn, I've played guitar since just after the first Folk Scare...late 60s. Some banjo. But I haven't attempted autoharp till now...at 66. Your first lesson looks GREAT> Anxious to work on all of 'em. You're a great teacher.
I dream of playing as quickly as I did during middle school..and I could read music.!!! Thank you, Johann...I learned about low vs higher notes and of course...melody picking!!
Just ordered one.....discovered an old omnichord in a relatives junk! Been having fun, but I'm ready for a real instrument! Cannot wait! You are very calming...I'll be checking out more of your tutorials. YEEHAW!
Thank you for the great lesson! I have been playing guitar for over 35 years and bought an Oscar Schmidt Autoharp about ten years ago and am just picking it up to learn. I am subscribing and am going to check out whatever else you have posted. Thank you again your lesson helped me greatly.
Thank you so much and Blessings a plenty for having this channel. Just revived my first auto-harp and it's been a life long dream to play. Your videos are a much needed help and explain so much more. Thank you again For your tutoring and gift;)- and for sharing it!!!!
Your videos make me want to get my autoharp out of the back of the closet. All I do is strum and accompany my sister, who plays the recorder, at Christmastime. (o:
omg, i dont really own any of these beautiful instruments and i totally binge watched your videos... i felt like i was in a private class! Love how you explained everything! INSPIRATIONAL !
That is a beautiful sound. I have never seen one of these instruments. Your instruction is so clear, no waffle or wasted words. It is all useful. Just maybe I could learn to play. At 67yrs I have been learning to play guitar for 3 years and I am so slow but I feel this may be easier for me. I will try to find one to buy and let you know how I do. many thanks. Lyn
The nice thing about an autoharp is that virtually anyone can get nice sounding chorded music from it right out of the box. The hardest part is tuning (36 strings, after all), but don't let that intimidate you -- it's just like tuning any other stringed instrument. It just takes longer. ;) Once you've done it a dozen or so times you get a feel for it and you find it's not so hard after all. Keeping it well tuned will make you want to pick it up and strum it again and again -- and before you know it, your hooked!
Thank you for these brilliant videos, I got an autoharp a few years ago to accompany myself singing, but it is difficult to get a good sound and I'd love to be able to play melodies, this clearly explains it and you make it sound less complicated!
During the 60's and 70's, a lot of autoharps were produced with 15 chord bars in 2 rows and are still produced today. The three-row configuration is much more logical, but 21 bars is more than you really need except in rare circumstances. I am in the process of making a video tutorial showing how to change a 15-bar, 2-row chord bar set into a 3-row set. Stay tuned, I should have it up shortly!
I think I have an instrument very similar to yours. 2 rows, 15 chords. My wife's cousin gave it to me a couple of weeks ago. Oscar Schmidt, all black and made before zip codes came into common use.
I fell asleep with this video yesterday. What a great calming voice! Very instructive also. I am thinking of buying an autoharp but I don't know if it's going to sound loud enough to play it on the streets. Can you help me out with this? I am a street singer / guitarist and looking for something new. Greetings from Belgium.
Luthier-made autoharps, like the one I’m using in the video, have significantly more volume than the manufactured brands. But there are options among the manufactured brands that might fit your needs. I would suggest looking at a 21 chord Oscar Schmidt model OS73C or a 21 chord ChromAharP. The upper bridge on these two autoharps consists of a single steel rod over which all of the strings pass. This type of bridge (“A” style) produces more volume than the bridge style that is found on other models. This bridge type (“B” style) consists of individual pins, one for each string. The sound of autoharps with B style bridges tends to be more smooth and sweet, while the sound of autoharps with an A style bridge is more bright and bold.
Very nice video! I'm thinking about taking up this instrument, but I'm afraid it will be quite difficult to get one around here (Belgium). It's not a very well-known instrument around here, such a shame...
If you have a Facebook account, look for the autoharp group I started on Facebook about a year ago. At last count there were almost 300 members from all over the world. There might be someone in that group that lives close enough to you and might be able to help you find an autoharp. All you need to do is request membership in the group and I'll get you signed up.
Wow, you're good! Never thought about autoharp experts before! I'm considering buying this old BMI ChromaHarp I saw at the thrift store. Interestingly enough, there is no Em button, but I'd assume if you hold down the G and play the triad in the right order, you're there... Tried doing this today while attempting "Lost in the Flood" by Bruce Springsteen... That song is much easier on piano, but the chord stabs beg for the type of technique an autoharp uses. They look easy to tune, are they?
Thank you so much for demonstrating how to play melody. I'm having a hard time finding a natural movement in my strumming and pinching, especially when playing something with a quicker rhythm. Any tips?
Virtually all autoharps come from the factory set up as chromatic instruments. I generally recommend starting on a chromatic because it does such a good job of teaching you the nuts and bolts of playing. That's how I started out; and your chromatic can always be converted to a diatonic later on down the road if you decide to go that direction.
Excellent teacher , thank you so so much . Beautiful sound . I've been given one by a friend & it doesn't have the tuning wrench & i don't know how to tune it ☺😊 i'd love to learn to play it & would be be great full if you could help me please ? King regards Ben 🙏
Go to www.daigleautoharps.com to order a tuning wrench. They will have the correct size for autoharps. When you’re ready for lessons I offer them via Zoom. You can find all the details on my website at autoharpist.com
I have an old autoharp I am thinking about restringing. This video was very helpful and showed me that you can play melody on the autoharp as well as chords, but if you want to play something from a sheet of music can you do that as well and how do you do it?
My go-to method is to first determine the basic chords you would need if you were just strumming background. Each chord has three notes (or four, if you're talking about a 7th chord). If the tune is in the key of C for instance, C major is probably the chord you will need to start and end the song. Since C major has the notes C, E and G, you can pick those three melody notes within that chord. You would typically also need the F major (F,A,C) and G major (G,B,D) for a typical three-chord song in the key of C. you can see that between those three chords you have every note in the C major scale. You switch between those chords to get the notes you need, which will be indicated on the sheet music. By BEST advice however, is to try to learn to play a simple tune you already know WITHOUT the music in front of you. Your ear will tell you which chord you need. :)
I just won an Oscar Schmidt 36 string autoharp at an auction and I'm so thrilled! However, I'm left-handed. Is it possible to play it the other direction? Or do I try to train myself to play right-handed?
I have a lyre harp and I play it bare-fingered. For the autoharp, I prefer a Fred Kelly Speed Pick (white) and ClingPro Fingers Friend finger picks: www.clingpropicks.com/store/fingers-friend-enhanced-single
Bottom line, you can play any instrument upside down if you want to. Are you left-handed? Are you planning to play it Appalachian style (held upright) or lap style?
A strap would indeed be your best bet, although you could play it while sitting by resting the edge on your lap. If you do apply strap buttons, don’t mount them on the top (soundboard), but rather on the outer perimeter where you’ll be drilling into the much-sturdier frame that surrounds the autoharp
i thank you all the help ,i can use the help, I just bought a used 9 yrs autoharp has not been payed for yrs like new, but the strings are old ,it has 38 strings, and it is as 21 cord I did buy a yamaha yt- 2200 chromatic tuner, to tune my harp ,it took me 2 hrs to get it in close in tun, , it has the sev, and min, and meg keys can you tell me what keys to use at first and witch key is c cord? would it be a good idea to replace the strings, and pads, ???35 yrs ago i did have a 12 cord harp it was fun to play ,i am having a hard time trying to play this harp,. the base nots well not sound vere good at all,is it that the pads are not good , and the strings are so old ,it is 9 yrs old never been played, hope you dont mine me asking , I love the way you play a autoharp, hope i can learn to play like you do, I am 77 yrs young and love the autoharp sounds, thanks ,I am new at this,
It sounds like you have a custom-made autoharp. If it has more than 36 strings and there are no labels on the chord bars that tell you what chord it is, then it is likely something other than a standard factory-made Oscar Schmidt. If the autoharp is only 9 years old, then the strings and felts (pads) should be absolutely fine and do not need to be replaced, especially if it has not been played much. I recommend that you contact an autoharp expert who does repairs like Chuck Daniels ( autoharprx.com ), Bob Lewis ( autoharpworks.com ), Pete Daigle ( daigleautoharps.com ) or Greg Schreiber ( schreiberautoharps.com ). They can tell you exactly what kind of autoharp you have, what chords are on it, and can give you advice on what it may need to play and sound its best. Also, a good resource for autoharp players is the Autoharp Facebook Group. It’s a great place to visit with other autoharp players and share ideas. Hope this helps!
@@autoharpist hi , and thank you for the mail I tryed to send you photos of the harp was not able to sorry, the, autoharp is a LARK IN THE MORNING , 36 strings, and 21 cords, has magr, and 7th, and miner keys, I do not now how to play it or what key is the real C, cord,and D ,and F, cord, I, hope this helps you to now what I have , so you can tell me what I have ?? I did send photos on the reply to and it would not send it to you sorry, thank you for the help :))
Sorry I didn't reply before now -- Just now found your reply. The autoharp you have is probably one that was built from a kit. I went to the Lark in the Morning website and it appears they no longer carry this kit. However, they most likely still have the instructions on file that show how the autoharp was supposed to be tuned and how the chord bars were recommended to be arranged. Email them and see if they can send you a copy, and this should answer your question about which chord bar is the C major chord. There is something else you can try. A C major chord contains the notes C, E and G. By pressing down on each of the major chords and plucking the open strings, you can tell which notes are which by using your tuner. When you find the major chord that has only C, E and G notes open when pressing down the bar, then you will know that this is the C major chord. You can then do the same thing for the other chord bars by pushing down on each bar and checking with your tuner to see which notes are open. A G major chord has G, B and D. An F major chord has F, A and C. etc.
@@autoharpist thank you very much, I did buy the yamaha yt-2200 chromatic tuner, I just a bought got it tuned, thanks to you , I now now what I have , and I did buy a auto pick up for the harp so now it well be as electric autoharp, I can use my amp ,so i can hear it better,, I did not now it was a kit, it does not look like a kit,?? long as it plays as nice as your autoharps i well be happy, now i got to learn some songs to play on it , god bless you for all the help , I well give you up dates, , as you said it takes a wale to get all working , I do have to tune each time i work on it but it been in the case for 9 yrs so its going to take a wale ,:)))
I've just removed every second string (and chord bars as well) and made it a diatonic zither - no problem to play a melody, and the sound is much more clear and pleasant than just strumming in a general direction of notes.
Many people don’t care for the sound of strumming across all those muted strings, myself included. I play nothing but pure diatonic autoharps now, and my playing style is much more akin to zither-style, playing melody notes without using chord bars as often as possible. But I still like having the chord bars because it allows me to make short chords in the lower end that accompany the single-note melody further up the string bed. The chord bars can also be used very selectively to control the sustain. Take a look at some of my most recent videos and you’ll see what I mean.
Hi, Dave. The instrument you’re describing is miniature version of an autoharp that was intended to be used by very young children. (I have one hanging on the wall in my studio.) Don’t consider it at all if you’re wanting to get an autoharp for yourself for serious playing, or even learning. It’s not intended for that purpose. It might be good for little kids, but in its current condition it would be dangerous in small hands (brittle, rusty strings prone to breakage, etc.). If you have a small child or grandchild that might like something like this, plan on spending around $75 - $100 making it safe and playable. There are much better, safer alternatives for kids available - so in my opinion, this autoharp is worth what you’d be willing to pay for wall art.
Your best bet is to get one from a dealer who is familiar with autoharps and knows a bit about modifications and repairs. A few come to mind: Pete Daigle, Chuck Daniels and Bob Lewis. Since this comment box won't let me post a link, you'll have to do a Google search with any of those names, plus "autoharp". You'll find them. You can generally pick up a new Oscar Schmidt autoharp for around $300 to $350, and if you get it from one of these guys, it will be fully adjusted and ready to play.
Hi. Jo Ann , lm trying to figure out how to play Mary had a little lamb. Are you using the chord bars as well as plucking strings .? Thanks in advance for your reply.and Lang may your rum leak .Kind regards , Bill
Yes, I’m using chord bars and plucking strings. You have to be pushing down on a chord bar in order to mute all the strings except those that have the notes for the melody. In the case of Mary Had a Little Lamb, you only need to use two chords to play the song. In the key of G, you would need G major and D major. Those two chords contain all the necessary melody notes. You switch between them to get the note you need at the time. So the chord changes to play Mary Had a Little Lamb would look something like this: G D G D G G G, D D D, G G G, G D G D G G G G D D G D G.
TX for a concise, idiot-proof lesson. One thing I might offer. MY autoharrp was about 50 years old when I got it--and the tuning pegs were very hard to turn. SO--I put a pair of vise-grip pliers cross-wise across the tuning key. The leverage makes a BIG difference.. I'll b a regular student. Many thanks.
To begin, I have to say this made the autoharp seem a tonne less intimidating. I have taken 11 years of music theory, can play any brass instrument, trained for 8 years on piano, and can play the harmonica and banjo. I want to pick up the autoharp. Hopefully with all I've learned it won't be too daunting. It does make me feel like I need to work on the "claw-hammer" picking style before I begin.
it's now 2020. I just got an auto harp last night. Thank you, glad these are still here. Mine has no keys on it. It's a mandolin auto harp. I don't know much about it.
The short answer is Yes, I do use the shorter strings. The thing is, I don't always strum all the way through the strings and up to the very top. I only do that rarely. But I do need every one of those high strings for picking out individual notes. It depends on the song, but on songs where the melody goes very high, you can see my hand reaching up there, but it might only be my ring finger that shoots out quickly and grabs that high note. The way the camera is positioned, it's difficult to see exactly what my fingers are actually doing when I'm playing. But the only way I could provide that is to have another camera directly above me and aiming downward at the space between my right hand and the strings. Haven't figured out a way to rig that yet. :)
Jo Ann Smith: Let me first say how kind you are to have always answered my questions. I just have a very quick one. Can I play melody / notes with my new ChromAharp that I got? I’ve been having quite a time trying..... even after watching technique installment video.
Will Maybe Yes, you can play melody on your ChromAharp. The trick to playing melody on an autoharp is choosing the right chord for each note of the melody. The easiest way to demonstrate this is to play a simple C major scale (C D E F G A B C). In order to play that scale on the autoharp, you have to push down on a chord bar that contains the note you need - and this means that you have to change chords every time you go to the next note. So the chord progression would look like this: C, G, C, F, C (or G), F, G, C. THEN, you combine that with finding and plucking the right string at the same time. It sounds way more complicated than it really is, but it does take practice.
If i have my intellie on one of my auto harp pegs and i pluck the hi c string, and the intellie says its a b, do i tune the c string ontil the intellie says c? Please get back to me.
Hi, Marilyn. Be careful - any electronic tuner sometimes has issues determining the true note in both the highest and lowest registers. If you keep getting the same reading say, 8 times out of 10, it's probably correct. The *best* way to tell if it's being truthful is to check the other strings. If your autoharp has been tuned on a regular basis, the strings will most likely drift either sharp or flat at a similar rate. So if the other strings - mainly the unwound ones - are also a half step flat, then you can be pretty sure that top string is also a half step flat and you can safely tune it from B to C.
Sorry, in my last question, I assumed you were using the instrument you showed in your introductory video, the one in C. So disregard those example chord settings I postulated. Still, how do you play those non-harmonic tones, by lifting all the dampers or what? Thanks again.
What I forgot to mention in this video is that I was changing chordbars to get the notes needed for the melody. This autoharp is set up in the key of G, so I was using the G chord and the D chord to get the notes for the melody. I was pressing down on a chord bar during each "pinch", but it varied between the G chord bar and the D chord bar, depending on which note I needed. For this particular melody, the chord bar sequence for each note went something like this: G D G D G G G D D D G G G G D G D G G G G D D G D G.
I just bought an old autoharp. After taking a good look at it, I realize that it it has a big crack on both the front and back side. Would this make it now untunable?
It's unfortunate, but yes -- the cracks indicate that the frame is not strong enough to support the tension created by all of the strings when tuned. The amount of pull created by all of the strings pulling on the body is around 2,000 pounds. I'm afraid this one probably woudn't survive being tuned up to pitch. Don't feel too badly -- it's not uncommon for this to happen, particularly in autoharps that were built before the 1950s. If you can find one that was made in the early to mid 1970's, those typically are worth the investment and do well being brought back up to playing condition.
I was thinking the same thing! I was like damn if only I knew exactly what both hands were up 2 I would have learned exactly what to do and allready be on my way to playing Mary had a little lamb
thanks so much for these videos. I just inherited a 12 chord from the 50's. The same one my mom played while she was pregnant with me. Now with your help I am learning more every day.
Wow - I hope that 12 years later you kept up with it!
How beautiful....14 years later....I too hope you kept up with it and would LOVE to heR you play!!!
Because of you I have ordered my first autoharp. I hope to some day be able to play as beautifully as you do. Thank you for everything.
Your voice is like a DJ's, beautiful. I loved the way you explained all of this. You just broke it down so simply and thanks for the encouragement. Well done, fantastic presentation.
this woman is just what the world needs
You are an absolutely wonderful instructor...direct and with clear, easy to grasp examples! Thank you!
Obijon2112 she’s a superb tutor, I have personal lessons with her ‘online’ and they are superb, totally geared to the students level, needs and requests. I still come back to watch these though!
I was having a dull grey afternoon. Somehow it feels so much sunnier after watching this.
Thank you Jo Ann ! Your videos have taught me to play the autoharp. Going on 3 years now. You are amazing
LOVE YOU JO ANN. I get my very first mint/aged/used 15 chord harp on Friday WITH like new hardshell case for 100.00 US. I have been waiting about 4 months, and have saved all of your videos. THANK YOU and GOD BLESS for making your instruction free.
I am 49 yrs young, have guitar experience, but I know this is the right instrument for me.
I just bought two in a yard sale today a large and a smaller one and these are the first I've seen since my grandmothers some 60plus years ago.
I think with your videos I stand a chance of finally learning how to play these. Better late than never
Thanks for such well done videos.
Hi Jo:
I bought an autoharp maybe 28 years ago but this week when I say your video, it made me want to try to play it now that I am semi retired. Thanks
George
I love this video. I bought my first autoharp about 6 years ago and while it was being shipped to my house I watched you over and over and over so when my autoharp got to my house I actually picked it up and started playing it... everyone just looked at me kind of funny. 😊 Thank you so much for teaching me how to play! ♥️
Thankyou Jo Ann. I very much appreciate you taking time to reply.
I will now begin my hunt! Thankyou!
These are wonderful - you're a beautiful teacher. Having been a bluegrass musician in the 70's you have inspired me to take up autoharp. I look forward to hearing more from you - it's beautiful music.
TX< JoAnn, I've played guitar since just after the first Folk Scare...late 60s. Some banjo. But I haven't attempted autoharp till now...at 66. Your first lesson looks GREAT> Anxious to work on all of 'em. You're a great teacher.
John Wilson how did you get on?
That was a great short lesson and a very pleasant voice and persona. Totally enjoyable. Thank you
What a neat instrument. Great touch Joanne.
I dream of playing as quickly as I did during middle school..and I could read music.!!! Thank you, Johann...I learned about low vs higher notes and of course...melody picking!!
Excelllent teaching speed and pleasant personality-easy to listen to. Thank you
Thanks, Jo Ann for your great insight to a technique I have long wondered about!
That pinching technique at 5:45 can really add a lot without making the rhythm too busy. Well-demonstrated.
Just ordered one.....discovered an old omnichord in a relatives junk! Been having fun, but I'm ready for a real instrument! Cannot wait! You are very calming...I'll be checking out more of your tutorials. YEEHAW!
Thank you for the great lesson! I have been playing guitar for over 35 years and bought an Oscar Schmidt Autoharp about ten years ago and am just picking it up to learn. I am subscribing and am going to check out whatever else you have posted. Thank you again your lesson helped me greatly.
Thank you for the tutorial Jo Ann, that was great!
You're welcome! :)
I just stumbled across an autoharp today and it's so cool that i actually want to learn
You are absolutely brill. Thank you so much. You make it very easy and clear and I've learned the maximum utmost.
Love, Black Jake Two Fingers.
Thank you so much and Blessings a plenty for having this channel. Just revived my first auto-harp and it's been a life long dream to play. Your videos are a much needed help and explain so much more. Thank you again For your tutoring and gift;)- and for sharing it!!!!
Even at 5 am your instructions are easy to follow. Thank you for giving me hope that I might learn to play the autoharp well. Sigi
Really enjoying these videos, Jo Ann, and looking forward to more!
thank you! excellent explanation of pinching a melody! I appreciate this very much!
Excellent, this is like having a personal tutor.
Thanks!
Your videos make me want to get my autoharp out of the back of the closet. All I do is strum and accompany my sister, who plays the recorder, at Christmastime. (o:
omg, i dont really own any of these beautiful instruments and i totally binge watched your videos... i felt like i was in a private class! Love how you explained everything!
INSPIRATIONAL !
That is a beautiful sound. I have never seen one of these instruments. Your instruction is so clear, no waffle or wasted words. It is all useful. Just maybe I could learn to play. At 67yrs I have been learning to play guitar for 3 years and I am so slow but I feel this may be easier for me. I will try to find one to buy and let you know how I do. many thanks. Lyn
The nice thing about an autoharp is that virtually anyone can get nice sounding chorded music from it right out of the box. The hardest part is tuning (36 strings, after all), but don't let that intimidate you -- it's just like tuning any other stringed instrument. It just takes longer. ;) Once you've done it a dozen or so times you get a feel for it and you find it's not so hard after all. Keeping it well tuned will make you want to pick it up and strum it again and again -- and before you know it, your hooked!
Sorry I missed your post. Thank you Jo Ann
Did you wind up having a go on the Autoharp?
Excellent, a really well put together tutorial which is of great help, thank you for posting
Extraordinary instrument, thank you for the introduction.
Thank you for these brilliant videos, I got an autoharp a few years ago to accompany myself singing, but it is difficult to get a good sound and I'd love to be able to play melodies, this clearly explains it and you make it sound less complicated!
Nice video and your autoharp sure has a beautiful sound!
I got it second time around...Thankyou.
I only have 2 rows of chords(15) and mine is a family 'pass down', over 50 yrs. old. Thanks for the melody picking intros.
During the 60's and 70's, a lot of autoharps were produced with 15 chord bars in 2 rows and are still produced today. The three-row configuration is much more logical, but 21 bars is more than you really need except in rare circumstances. I am in the process of making a video tutorial showing how to change a 15-bar, 2-row chord bar set into a 3-row set. Stay tuned, I should have it up shortly!
I think I have an instrument very similar to yours. 2 rows, 15 chords. My wife's cousin gave it to me a couple of weeks ago. Oscar Schmidt, all black and made before zip codes came into common use.
Great lesson I’m getting my new autoharp 09/02/2022 so reviewing lesson so I will understand lesson!
You do a great job with these tutorial videos!
This is really helping me. I am frustrated because I can't play melody. I hope to try this technique.
Thanks - these are great lessons, do keep up the good work!
i love your videos! i am spreading the word over hear in europe.
I fell asleep with this video yesterday. What a great calming voice! Very instructive also. I am thinking of buying an autoharp but I don't know if it's going to sound loud enough to play it on the streets. Can you help me out with this? I am a street singer / guitarist and looking for something new. Greetings from Belgium.
Luthier-made autoharps, like the one I’m using in the video, have significantly more volume than the manufactured brands. But there are options among the manufactured brands that might fit your needs. I would suggest looking at a 21 chord Oscar Schmidt model OS73C or a 21 chord ChromAharP. The upper bridge on these two autoharps consists of a single steel rod over which all of the strings pass. This type of bridge (“A” style) produces more volume than the bridge style that is found on other models. This bridge type (“B” style) consists of individual pins, one for each string. The sound of autoharps with B style bridges tends to be more smooth and sweet, while the sound of autoharps with an A style bridge is more bright and bold.
Jo Ann Smith thank you very much!! 👍
Very nice video! I'm thinking about taking up this instrument, but I'm afraid it will be quite difficult to get one around here (Belgium). It's not a very well-known instrument around here, such a shame...
Thank you Jo Ann!
I play guitar but i just watched this because i like autoharps. Anyways this is a very good video God bless sister!
thank you SOOOOOOO much for posting!
Jo Anne, I just found an autoharp for 150!!
great basic beginner instructions! want to see the whole series - how can I watch them in sequence?
If you have a Facebook account, look for the autoharp group I started on Facebook about a year ago. At last count there were almost 300 members from all over the world. There might be someone in that group that lives close enough to you and might be able to help you find an autoharp. All you need to do is request membership in the group and I'll get you signed up.
Wow, you're good! Never thought about autoharp experts before! I'm considering buying this old BMI ChromaHarp I saw at the thrift store. Interestingly enough, there is no Em button, but I'd assume if you hold down the G and play the triad in the right order, you're there... Tried doing this today while attempting "Lost in the Flood" by Bruce Springsteen... That song is much easier on piano, but the chord stabs beg for the type of technique an autoharp uses. They look easy to tune, are they?
Jo Ann Smith, I like your Aura 🙂
What an AMAZING instrument!!!!!!!!! I just bought me o e on Ebay and I've decided that I will name her Sarah Carter....after the Carter Family.....
yes I agree great , video and easy to look at lady .
Thank you so much for demonstrating how to play melody. I'm having a hard time finding a natural movement in my strumming and pinching, especially when playing something with a quicker rhythm. Any tips?
P.S. I always wondered how the HECK people managed to play a melody. You have "demystified" it for me! --Alison Ruth Defrese
Virtually all autoharps come from the factory set up as chromatic instruments. I generally recommend starting on a chromatic because it does such a good job of teaching you the nuts and bolts of playing. That's how I started out; and your chromatic can always be converted to a diatonic later on down the road if you decide to go that direction.
Informative, and charming. You made my day. :-)
Excellent teacher , thank you so so much . Beautiful sound . I've been given one by a friend & it doesn't have the tuning wrench & i don't know how to tune it ☺😊 i'd love to learn to play it & would be be great full if you could help me please ? King regards Ben 🙏
Go to www.daigleautoharps.com to order a tuning wrench. They will have the correct size for autoharps. When you’re ready for lessons I offer them via Zoom. You can find all the details on my website at autoharpist.com
Excellent teaching
I really looking for auto harp teacher
you are wonderful
how could i learn from you?
I have an old autoharp I am thinking about restringing. This video was very helpful and showed me that you can play melody on the autoharp as well as chords, but if you want to play something from a sheet of music can you do that as well and how do you do it?
My go-to method is to first determine the basic chords you would need if you were just strumming background. Each chord has three notes (or four, if you're talking about a 7th chord). If the tune is in the key of C for instance, C major is probably the chord you will need to start and end the song. Since C major has the notes C, E and G, you can pick those three melody notes within that chord. You would typically also need the F major (F,A,C) and G major (G,B,D) for a typical three-chord song in the key of C. you can see that between those three chords you have every note in the C major scale. You switch between those chords to get the notes you need, which will be indicated on the sheet music.
By BEST advice however, is to try to learn to play a simple tune you already know WITHOUT the music in front of you. Your ear will tell you which chord you need. :)
@@autoharpist Thank you for explaining this to me and for your videos.
Pretty nice introductionary video, i thought those chords worked as giving another tone and not locking strings. So good to know!
Where did you get the leaf Autoharp. Beautiful I start lessons on Monday!
Thank you! Lovely video.
That's a great idea, thank you very much!
I just won an Oscar Schmidt 36 string autoharp at an auction and I'm so thrilled! However, I'm left-handed. Is it possible to play it the other direction? Or do I try to train myself to play right-handed?
Hello! Do you perhaps have a recommendation for lyre harp finger & thumb picks? Take care.
I have a lyre harp and I play it bare-fingered. For the autoharp, I prefer a Fred Kelly Speed Pick (white) and ClingPro Fingers Friend finger picks: www.clingpropicks.com/store/fingers-friend-enhanced-single
Great video!
Hi I am a mandolin player and wish to play the autoharp upside down… is that possible?
Bottom line, you can play any instrument upside down if you want to. Are you left-handed? Are you planning to play it Appalachian style (held upright) or lap style?
@@autoharpist thanks for your reply. I want to be able to hold it the same way as a guitar or mandolin and perhaps strap will stabilize it…
A strap would indeed be your best bet, although you could play it while sitting by resting the edge on your lap. If you do apply strap buttons, don’t mount them on the top (soundboard), but rather on the outer perimeter where you’ll be drilling into the much-sturdier frame that surrounds the autoharp
@@autoharpist thanks a million!
Thanks ...... good stuff
What a godsend!
i thank you all the help ,i can use the help, I just bought a used 9 yrs autoharp has not been payed for yrs like new, but the strings are old ,it has 38 strings, and it is as 21 cord I did buy a yamaha yt- 2200 chromatic tuner, to tune my harp ,it took me 2 hrs to get it in close in tun, , it has the sev, and min, and meg keys can you tell me what keys to use at first and witch key is c cord? would it be a good idea to replace the strings, and pads, ???35 yrs ago i did have a 12 cord harp it was fun to play ,i am having a hard time trying to play this harp,. the base nots well not sound vere good at all,is it that the pads are not good , and the strings are so old ,it is 9 yrs old never been played, hope you dont mine me asking , I love the way you play a autoharp, hope i can learn to play like you do, I am 77 yrs young and love the autoharp sounds, thanks ,I am new at this,
It sounds like you have a custom-made autoharp. If it has more than 36 strings and there are no labels on the chord bars that tell you what chord it is, then it is likely something other than a standard factory-made Oscar Schmidt. If the autoharp is only 9 years old, then the strings and felts (pads) should be absolutely fine and do not need to be replaced, especially if it has not been played much. I recommend that you contact an autoharp expert who does repairs like Chuck Daniels ( autoharprx.com ), Bob Lewis ( autoharpworks.com ), Pete Daigle ( daigleautoharps.com ) or Greg Schreiber ( schreiberautoharps.com ). They can tell you exactly what kind of autoharp you have, what chords are on it, and can give you advice on what it may need to play and sound its best. Also, a good resource for autoharp players is the Autoharp Facebook Group. It’s a great place to visit with other autoharp players and share ideas. Hope this helps!
@@autoharpist hi , and thank you for the mail I tryed to send you
photos of the harp was not able to sorry,
the, autoharp is a LARK IN THE MORNING , 36 strings, and 21 cords,
has magr, and 7th, and miner keys, I do not now how to play it or what key is the real C, cord,and D ,and F, cord, I, hope this helps you to now
what I have , so you can tell me what I have ?? I did send photos on the reply to and it would not send it to you sorry, thank you for the help :))
Sorry I didn't reply before now -- Just now found your reply. The autoharp you have is probably one that was built from a kit. I went to the Lark in the Morning website and it appears they no longer carry this kit. However, they most likely still have the instructions on file that show how the autoharp was supposed to be tuned and how the chord bars were recommended to be arranged. Email them and see if they can send you a copy, and this should answer your question about which chord bar is the C major chord.
There is something else you can try. A C major chord contains the notes C, E and G. By pressing down on each of the major chords and plucking the open strings, you can tell which notes are which by using your tuner. When you find the major chord that has only C, E and G notes open when pressing down the bar, then you will know that this is the C major chord. You can then do the same thing for the other chord bars by pushing down on each bar and checking with your tuner to see which notes are open. A G major chord has G, B and D. An F major chord has F, A and C. etc.
@@autoharpist thank you very much, I did buy the yamaha yt-2200 chromatic tuner, I just a bought got it tuned, thanks to you , I now now what I have , and I did buy a auto pick up for the harp so now it well be as electric autoharp, I can use my amp ,so i can hear it better,, I did not now it was a kit, it does not look like a kit,?? long as it plays as nice as your autoharps i well be happy, now i got to learn some songs to play on it , god bless you for all the help , I well give you up dates, , as you said it takes a wale to get all working , I do have to tune each time i work on it but it been in the case for 9 yrs so its going to take a wale ,:)))
Thanks. Escellent instruction.
You're welcome.
Yay, great lesson!
I've just removed every second string (and chord bars as well) and made it a diatonic zither - no problem to play a melody, and the sound is much more clear and pleasant than just strumming in a general direction of notes.
Many people don’t care for the sound of strumming across all those muted strings, myself included. I play nothing but pure diatonic autoharps now, and my playing style is much more akin to zither-style, playing melody notes without using chord bars as often as possible. But I still like having the chord bars because it allows me to make short chords in the lower end that accompany the single-note melody further up the string bed. The chord bars can also be used very selectively to control the sustain. Take a look at some of my most recent videos and you’ll see what I mean.
Hi what would a 5cord 19 string chroma harp (tokai gakki) worth, want to buy it but haven't a clue, strings mast be replaced, thank you blessing Dave
Hi, Dave. The instrument you’re describing is miniature version of an autoharp that was intended to be used by very young children. (I have one hanging on the wall in my studio.) Don’t consider it at all if you’re wanting to get an autoharp for yourself for serious playing, or even learning. It’s not intended for that purpose. It might be good for little kids, but in its current condition it would be dangerous in small hands (brittle, rusty strings prone to breakage, etc.). If you have a small child or grandchild that might like something like this, plan on spending around $75 - $100 making it safe and playable. There are much better, safer alternatives for kids available - so in my opinion, this autoharp is worth what you’d be willing to pay for wall art.
@@autoharpist thank a lot Iam in South Africa and strings are gone cost me 500rand or more, Blessings
Your best bet is to get one from a dealer who is familiar with autoharps and knows a bit about modifications and repairs. A few come to mind: Pete Daigle, Chuck Daniels and Bob Lewis. Since this comment box won't let me post a link, you'll have to do a Google search with any of those names, plus "autoharp". You'll find them. You can generally pick up a new Oscar Schmidt autoharp for around $300 to $350, and if you get it from one of these guys, it will be fully adjusted and ready to play.
Hi. Jo Ann , lm trying to figure out how to play Mary had a little lamb. Are you using the chord bars as well as plucking strings .? Thanks in advance for your reply.and Lang may your rum leak .Kind regards , Bill
Yes, I’m using chord bars and plucking strings. You have to be pushing down on a chord bar in order to mute all the strings except those that have the notes for the melody. In the case of Mary Had a Little Lamb, you only need to use two chords to play the song. In the key of G, you would need G major and D major. Those two chords contain all the necessary melody notes. You switch between them to get the note you need at the time. So the chord changes to play Mary Had a Little Lamb would look something like this: G D G D G G G, D D D, G G G, G D G D G G G G D D G D G.
TX for a concise, idiot-proof lesson. One thing I might offer. MY autoharrp was about 50 years old when I got it--and the tuning pegs were very hard to turn. SO--I put a pair of vise-grip pliers cross-wise across the tuning key. The leverage makes a BIG difference.. I'll b a regular student. Many thanks.
Thank you.
You're welcome!
Thankyou for reply! Is it best to buy a diatonic or chromatic? I play guitar , banjo and ukelele.
I play Autoharp in guitar orchestra The sound is very good
DEMAREZ Michel
Thank you!!!!!
To begin, I have to say this made the autoharp seem a tonne less intimidating. I have taken 11 years of music theory, can play any brass instrument, trained for 8 years on piano, and can play the harmonica and banjo. I want to pick up the autoharp. Hopefully with all I've learned it won't be too daunting. It does make me feel like I need to work on the "claw-hammer" picking style before I begin.
Hi Jo Ann , Translation from Gaelic meaning long may your rum ( chimney )emit smoke , in other words may. Your life be long . Regards. Bill .
it's now 2020. I just got an auto harp last night. Thank you, glad these are still here. Mine has no keys on it. It's a mandolin auto harp. I don't know much about it.
Do u ever play any songs using the short sided strings? I didn’t see any uploaded but maybe I just missed it.
The short answer is Yes, I do use the shorter strings. The thing is, I don't always strum all the way through the strings and up to the very top. I only do that rarely. But I do need every one of those high strings for picking out individual notes. It depends on the song, but on songs where the melody goes very high, you can see my hand reaching up there, but it might only be my ring finger that shoots out quickly and grabs that high note. The way the camera is positioned, it's difficult to see exactly what my fingers are actually doing when I'm playing. But the only way I could provide that is to have another camera directly above me and aiming downward at the space between my right hand and the strings. Haven't figured out a way to rig that yet. :)
Jo Ann Smith: Let me first say how kind you are to have always answered my questions. I just have a very quick one. Can I play melody / notes with my new ChromAharp that I got? I’ve been having quite a time trying..... even after watching technique installment video.
Will Maybe Yes, you can play melody on your ChromAharp. The trick to playing melody on an autoharp is choosing the right chord for each note of the melody. The easiest way to demonstrate this is to play a simple C major scale (C D E F G A B C). In order to play that scale on the autoharp, you have to push down on a chord bar that contains the note you need - and this means that you have to change chords every time you go to the next note. So the chord progression would look like this: C, G, C, F, C (or G), F, G, C. THEN, you combine that with finding and plucking the right string at the same time. It sounds way more complicated than it really is, but it does take practice.
this is great!!
great video, thank you!!!!!!
You're welcome!
If i have my intellie on one of my auto harp pegs and i pluck the hi c string, and the intellie says its a b, do i tune the c string ontil the intellie says c? Please get back to me.
Hi, Marilyn. Be careful - any electronic tuner sometimes has issues determining the true note in both the highest and lowest registers. If you keep getting the same reading say, 8 times out of 10, it's probably correct. The *best* way to tell if it's being truthful is to check the other strings. If your autoharp has been tuned on a regular basis, the strings will most likely drift either sharp or flat at a similar rate. So if the other strings - mainly the unwound ones - are also a half step flat, then you can be pretty sure that top string is also a half step flat and you can safely tune it from B to C.
Thanks!
Sorry, in my last question, I assumed you were using the instrument you showed in your introductory video, the one in C. So disregard those example chord settings I postulated. Still, how do you play those non-harmonic tones, by lifting all the dampers or what? Thanks again.
What I forgot to mention in this video is that I was changing chordbars to get the notes needed for the melody. This autoharp is set up in the key of G, so I was using the G chord and the D chord to get the notes for the melody. I was pressing down on a chord bar during each "pinch", but it varied between the G chord bar and the D chord bar, depending on which note I needed. For this particular melody, the chord bar sequence for each note went something like this: G D G D G G G D D D G G G G D G D G G G G D D G D G.
Jo Ann Smith
I see, thanks.
+Thank you for clearing this up!! I was so frustrated!! :)
you're fantastic :-)
can i strum with my thumb and index because i use two for banjo and guitar- carter scratch style
Yes.
@@autoharpist ok thank you for the tip
I just bought an old autoharp. After taking a good look at it, I realize that it it has a big crack on both the front and back side. Would this make it now untunable?
It's unfortunate, but yes -- the cracks indicate that the frame is not strong enough to support the tension created by all of the strings when tuned. The amount of pull created by all of the strings pulling on the body is around 2,000 pounds. I'm afraid this one probably woudn't survive being tuned up to pitch. Don't feel too badly -- it's not uncommon for this to happen, particularly in autoharps that were built before the 1950s. If you can find one that was made in the early to mid 1970's, those typically are worth the investment and do well being brought back up to playing condition.
thank you
You're welcome!
any way to build an autoharp system from a plain old harp?
trixie mattel brought me here
same
Me too
Need to lower the camera so we can see the entire instrument and both of your hands
I was thinking the same thing! I was like damn if only I knew exactly what both hands were up 2 I would have learned exactly what to do and allready be on my way to playing Mary had a little lamb