Time Stamps for this video: 0:00 Introduction 0:29 What is a rolled chord? 1:31 The trick to play rolled chords faster without stress 1:54 How to practice your 'wave' motion 2:41 How to play a rolled chord 4:06 What to do if you feel tense 4:30 Rolled chords on the left hand 5:19 How to make a rolled chord sound more even 7:06 How to practice rolled chords
HI CHRISTY LYN 😊 one of your students here. I satrted playing almost 3 weeks ago, I have learned Amazing Grace and am working on rolled chords as of yesterday.
I don't play harp. I'm having trouble with rolled chords on the guitar. Your instruction was perfect. Didn't know you were a guitar teacher did you? Thanks so much.
I’ve been playing the harp for about 2 months now. I play trombone and piano. I just feel in love with the sound of the harp. Still active on my primary instrument.
Hi Christy-Lyn - I have come back to my harp after a 3 year break so have taken myself back to basics and am really enjoying your videos. I do love a rolled chord and tend to stick them in all over the place! I started leaning about 12 years ago on a Pilgrim Clarsach and was persuaded to move onto a pedal harp, so bought a Pilgrim Malvern (remortgaged the house!) which is the most beautiful thing. I only had lessons for about a year and then just carried on learning on my own. Luckily I play the piano so I had the advantaage of being able to read the music right from the start. As time went on I discovered that I lean more towards Celtic/Scottish/Irish music so should probably have bought a Clarsach or other lever harp. Having moved to a small cottage, the poor thing was shoved in the spare room under it's cover and lots of strings gradually broke. However, I dragged it out a couple of weeks ago, replaced 16 (yes, really) strings and started torturing it again. How could I have considered selling it? I'm so glad I didn't and am loving playing again, albeit slowly and with stiff 55 year old fingers. I'm very grateful to you for your straight-forward approach. Sorry to go on at such length.... 😊
Excited to try this when I get there hehe for now just love watching anything of yours hehe I'm stuck in isolation at the moment, pretty ill but learning harp brings me so much joy.
Christy-Lyn, thank you so much! I have always had trouble playing rolled chords, but I tried your "wave" approach and it works!!!!! I have watched other "how to" videos and asked my teacher, but none have provided anything that really worked for me. Everyone should watch this. I can't wait to play rolled chords as part of my music. Thanks again!
Oh that’s AMAZING!! Wow I’m so pleased it helped you, thanks for telling me! ❤️ I’m so so glad. If you’d like others to see the video, please share wherever you can 😃
I am learning to play a chromatic lyre but even though my instrument is not at all comparable to the complexity of a harp, I have found many of your tutorials extremely helpful, so thank you so much. You have helped me tremendously, especially with regards to playing with both hands. I am an avid fan of your videos. (I also think you are an amazing harpist.❤️)
I think I started trying rolled chords half a year after I began playing the harp. But I remember that one year after I started playing harp I succeeded. I was so happy I even recorded my first arpeggi! :D I love your wave analogy! What helped me play rolled chords was realizing that my thumb can press against the string to give the other fingers stability when they roll upwards.
this video made me do a rolled chord in about 1 and a half hour, it's day 3 of ever touching a harp in my entire life. i'm completely lightheaded from the hours of practice, but going well so far! very thankful for your practical and clear video's! aswell as your bright energy
Oh wow! I tried doing your Rolling on the Waves song and struggled. Then I remembered seeing this video but wasn’t ready at the time to watch this. I just watched it and was instantly able to play Rolling on the Waves. Thank you so much Christy-Lyn!
Hi Christy -Lyn. Iv just stated to learn the harp about a month ago. It was hard at first but now its starting to click bit by bit. I really enjoy your teaching , you are so happy and enthusiastic it really does help. me. I used to be a pro fessional singer , in the 70,80,90,s doing solo work, and working with my husband in a band . we were on the road for 25 years!!! Im now 67 and just learning the harp !! worried wether it was to late in life,but im really enjoying it. Hope to sing along with the harp eventually ( LIKE YOU DO) TO SING AGAIN is a wonderful thing. But to play too would be great. I never learnt an instrument , but my hubby helps me too. He was a musician. I live in the UK. Where are you then ?. Take care . Carol x
Hi Carol. Great to hear from you, and it’s wonderful that you’re a singer! I’m sure you will enjoy singing with the harp. If you keep things very simple while you’re singing and playing (play chords, not the melody on the harp) then it doesn’t need to be very difficult and it still sounds lovely 😊 I will be recording some lessons on how to sing and play simple harp accompaniment within the next few months. Hopefully that will help! I’m in South Africa. Good to meet you! ❤️
@@LearningtheHarp Hi Christy-Lyn. Thankyou for your reply. Oh yes i will look forward to seeing lessons on singing and playing the harp . Will keep checking for that one. !!! Take care Stay safe. Carol X
I am late beginner/early intermediate and I find this to be the hardest part to master so far. I’m terrible at it!! I will definitely be practicing these techniques
What a nice, useful lesson!! I've been playing harp for about 10 months now, started a bit with rolled chords at 3-4 months, but was pretty lost, haha. Several helpful tips here, one in particular the part about squeezing the chords first as a block before releasing in the "wave". Thanks!
Thankyou soooo much Christy-Lyn, you really do make playing the harp seem simple and doable!! Whenever I am stressed about a certain part of playing the harp I just watch your videos:)
Excellent instruction on rolled chords Christy-Lyn!! I’ve been playing since ‘05 & started rolling chords probably 6 months into my lessons. My favorite thing to do!!👍🎶
Joan, I have been learning from Christy-Lyn since last year. I have become a Patreon member with her. For very little cost, you will get wonderful sheet music and video lessons available too! I would highly recommend joining! You will not be sorry if you are just beginning to play the harp! Get her free sheet music, Sailing on a Lake to start!
Hi Christy Lyn. I really appreciate your lessons. It has taken me about 3 years to do rolled chords and now I am getting the hang of them I use my harp to accompany my songs and would be glad if you can suggest suitable backing for 3/4 and 4/4 as I am getting bored with just doing the triads. thank you
Thank you so much for your videos. I’ve played piano, oboe, and guitar for decades, but just got a small harp in December. I started rolled chords when I got to that page of the Harpsicle method book. 😂
My teacher has had me do them from fairly early on.....starting slowly. She also tends to roll her chords most of the time, because she says it "just sounds more harpy!" lol
Thanks for your video - do you have any tips on practicing for the case where the rolled chord is 1-greater than your hand span? ie, this is a chord that you cannot reach as a "block chord" but you could theoretically make work by rolling?
Yes, you can place the notes that you can reach together, and practice that as a block chord (for example fingers 1, 2 and 3) and make sure the other finger is extended and ready even though it can’t fully reach the note, and then when you roll the chord you can roll onto the last note at the end (for example the 4th finger). Not sure if that makes sense, you might need someone to show you how to do that 😁
@@LearningtheHarp Thanks for replying. I think I've understood your explanation (as a small hands person who plays the piano, I've had similar issues there, and it's kind of an analogous problem to solve). I will ask my teacher too just in case I invent a bad habit along the way by mistake! Thanks again for the videos, and keep it up.
My lap harp is a Fullsicle from Harpsicle Harps, and it has 26 strings. That’s great because you will be able to play any sheet music written for lap harps / small harps. Another common number of strings for a lap harp is 22 strings but I don’t have much experience playing on that size. I have noticed some of my followers saying they struggle to find enough music to suit their 22 string harp, but that’s certainly getting easier these days, and if you are comfortable adjusting sheet music it could be totally fine! If you go for a 22 string, I would suggest a C to C one, not a G to G one, because that’s even harder to find music for and the range is very high and plinky. I personally wouldn’t go for anything smaller than a 22 string, unless it’s a cardboard harp and you’re wanting to pack it in your suitcase or something 😉
Hi Priscilla! Nice to hear from you 🤗 For most of us the left hand is weaker than the right, so you may find that your rolled chords improve if you do more strengthening exercises with your right hand, not only practicing rolled chords 😊💕
@@LearningtheHarp yes, my weakness is my left hand, I have vices to move it and do the same kind of arrangement over and over, but I'm determined to sit down a bit everyday now, my problem is that I play many instruments but i'm mostly focused on piano and winds, I love my harp and have had it a long time now, but I never had formal trained and I have all the vices of a self taught including the claw hand LOL still I started sitting down alone with it again and bit by bit regaining confidence. I know my songs, but I want to play any song :)
@@LearningtheHarp no worries I totally got it :) so far though I'm subscribed to your hannel and I usually watch the videos I must actually revisit with my harp in hand. I'm really happy that you've grown so much.You truely deserve, and top of it, you're not only talented but so sweet. Yes I'll tie my right hand hahah if needed hahaha :) XD hahah It's all about building the left skills, but I also struggle to do fast passages and ornamentations, I mean i can do roll chords (bit uneven on the trigger) and trills and such but would love to see videos on "overornamentation" in celtic songs like really fast notes and embellishments :) Hugs. Probably I need to watch /rewatch back videos too
A fast arpeggio has a set rhythm which would be written into the sheet music (and takes place across multiple beats), whereas a rolled chord takes place on one beat, and can be as fast or slow as your want it to be, based on the mood of the piece.
Aw, it gets easier! ❤️ If you want to talk about your specific struggles, there are lovely people on the “Learning the Harp Together” Facebook group who are encouraging and have great advice!
Time Stamps for this video:
0:00 Introduction
0:29 What is a rolled chord?
1:31 The trick to play rolled chords faster without stress
1:54 How to practice your 'wave' motion
2:41 How to play a rolled chord
4:06 What to do if you feel tense
4:30 Rolled chords on the left hand
5:19 How to make a rolled chord sound more even
7:06 How to practice rolled chords
pro tip : watch movies at flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching lots of of movies these days.
@Lionel Ezequiel Definitely, have been using Flixzone for years myself =)
@Lionel Ezequiel yup, have been watching on flixzone for months myself =)
@Lionel Ezequiel Yup, I have been using flixzone for since december myself :)
Best teacher with the sweetest disposition ❤️❤️❤️
HI CHRISTY LYN 😊 one of your students here. I satrted playing almost 3 weeks ago, I have learned Amazing Grace and am working on rolled chords as of yesterday.
I learned how to roll chords a couple of months into my harp lessons but I haven't had to do it for a while so this was awesome!
I don't play harp. I'm having trouble with rolled chords on the guitar. Your instruction was perfect. Didn't know you were a guitar teacher did you? Thanks so much.
First time! This is the sound I’ve always identified with the harp.. Looking forward to practicing these.
I’ve been playing the harp for about 2 months now. I play trombone and piano. I just feel in love with the sound of the harp. Still active on my primary instrument.
Hi Christy-Lyn - I have come back to my harp after a 3 year break so have taken myself back to basics and am really enjoying your videos. I do love a rolled chord and tend to stick them in all over the place! I started leaning about 12 years ago on a Pilgrim Clarsach and was persuaded to move onto a pedal harp, so bought a Pilgrim Malvern (remortgaged the house!) which is the most beautiful thing. I only had lessons for about a year and then just carried on learning on my own. Luckily I play the piano so I had the advantaage of being able to read the music right from the start. As time went on I discovered that I lean more towards Celtic/Scottish/Irish music so should probably have bought a Clarsach or other lever harp. Having moved to a small cottage, the poor thing was shoved in the spare room under it's cover and lots of strings gradually broke. However, I dragged it out a couple of weeks ago, replaced 16 (yes, really) strings and started torturing it again. How could I have considered selling it? I'm so glad I didn't and am loving playing again, albeit slowly and with stiff 55 year old fingers. I'm very grateful to you for your straight-forward approach. Sorry to go on at such length.... 😊
I love your upbeat and sweet personality. You are very motivating and encouraging! Can’t wait to start practicing rolled chords!!!
Thank you thank you thank you, you are a lifesaver!!
Excited to try this when I get there hehe for now just love watching anything of yours hehe I'm stuck in isolation at the moment, pretty ill but learning harp brings me so much joy.
Christy-Lyn, thank you so much! I have always had trouble playing rolled chords, but I tried your "wave" approach and it works!!!!! I have watched other "how to" videos and asked my teacher, but none have provided anything that really worked for me. Everyone should watch this. I can't wait to play rolled chords as part of my music. Thanks again!
Exactly my story Thomas! And with this amazing lessons I am gonna persevere until this mission is accomplished 🎶🎶🎶🙂.
Oh that’s AMAZING!! Wow I’m so pleased it helped you, thanks for telling me! ❤️ I’m so so glad. If you’d like others to see the video, please share wherever you can 😃
This was a great lesson, Christy-Lyn! Fun! Great pre-cursor to any upcoming music sheets with rolled chords!
Yay! 🤩
Thank you so much I am learning the rolled chord at this moment, your video just arrived on time.
I am learning to play a chromatic lyre but even though my instrument is not at all comparable to the complexity of a harp, I have found many of your tutorials extremely helpful, so thank you so much. You have helped me tremendously, especially with regards to playing with both hands. I am an avid fan of your videos. (I also think you are an amazing harpist.❤️)
You are such a fine teacher.
I think I started trying rolled chords half a year after I began playing the harp. But I remember that one year after I started playing harp I succeeded. I was so happy I even recorded my first arpeggi! :D
I love your wave analogy!
What helped me play rolled chords was realizing that my thumb can press against the string to give the other fingers stability when they roll upwards.
I haven't thought of practicing the chords at different speeds. It will help.
this video made me do a rolled chord in about 1 and a half hour, it's day 3 of ever touching a harp in my entire life. i'm completely lightheaded from the hours of practice, but going well so far! very thankful for your practical and clear video's! aswell as your bright energy
Ah that’s amazing!! So glad to hear it. And WELL DONE! 🙌🏻😃🥳
Oh wow! I tried doing your Rolling on the Waves song and struggled. Then I remembered seeing this video but wasn’t ready at the time to watch this. I just watched it and was instantly able to play Rolling on the Waves. Thank you so much Christy-Lyn!
Hi Christy -Lyn. Iv just stated to learn the harp about a month ago. It was hard at first but now its starting to click bit by bit. I really enjoy your teaching , you are so happy and enthusiastic it really does help. me. I used to be a pro fessional singer , in the 70,80,90,s doing solo work, and working with my husband in a band . we were on the road for 25 years!!! Im now 67 and just learning the harp !! worried wether it was to late in life,but im really enjoying it. Hope to sing along with the harp eventually ( LIKE YOU DO) TO SING AGAIN is a wonderful thing. But to play too would be great. I never learnt an instrument , but my hubby helps me too. He was a musician. I live in the UK. Where are you then ?. Take care . Carol x
Hi Carol. Great to hear from you, and it’s wonderful that you’re a singer! I’m sure you will enjoy singing with the harp. If you keep things very simple while you’re singing and playing (play chords, not the melody on the harp) then it doesn’t need to be very difficult and it still sounds lovely 😊 I will be recording some lessons on how to sing and play simple harp accompaniment within the next few months. Hopefully that will help!
I’m in South Africa. Good to meet you! ❤️
@@LearningtheHarp Hi Christy-Lyn. Thankyou for your reply. Oh yes i will look forward to seeing lessons on singing and playing the harp . Will keep checking for that one. !!! Take care Stay safe. Carol X
This was really helpful. My left hand doesn’t like downwards arpeggios or rolled chords.
I've been playing for 10 months and this is my first real attempt at rolled chords.
Yay!! How’s it feeling?
I am late beginner/early intermediate and I find this to be the hardest part to master so far. I’m terrible at it!! I will definitely be practicing these techniques
What a nice, useful lesson!! I've been playing harp for about 10 months now, started a bit with rolled chords at 3-4 months, but was pretty lost, haha. Several helpful tips here, one in particular the part about squeezing the chords first as a block before releasing in the "wave". Thanks!
Thankyou soooo much Christy-Lyn, you really do make playing the harp seem simple and doable!! Whenever I am stressed about a certain part of playing the harp I just watch your videos:)
Awwww I’m so glad! 😍
Wow! That's how you do it! Thanks a lot! I wanted to improve my rolled chords, but did not know how to do it!
Fantastic, thank-you so much. Didn't even know what these beautiful sounds were called before & now I can (sort of) play them. 😀
First time for me😊
I started mid way in my harp history of 40 years
First time for me. I am such a newbie but I love learning from Christy.
Thank you Christy-Lyn. You are really a great harp teacher. 👍🇸🇬
Great concept! Thank you, Christy
Great tutorial, I actually come here to learn how to play roll chords on guitar.
Excellent instruction on rolled chords Christy-Lyn!! I’ve been playing since ‘05 & started rolling chords probably 6 months into my lessons. My favorite thing to do!!👍🎶
dear Christy. Today with you is my very first time. Thanks. What fun. xxxx
Oh yay! Go for it, Joan! 😃
Joan, I have been learning from Christy-Lyn since last year. I have become a Patreon member with her. For very little cost, you will get wonderful sheet music and video lessons available too! I would highly recommend joining! You will not be sorry if you are just beginning to play the harp! Get her free sheet music, Sailing on a Lake to start!
Thank you so much ♥️
Hi Christy Lyn. I really appreciate your lessons. It has taken me about 3 years to do rolled chords and now I am getting the hang of them
I use my harp to accompany my songs and would be glad if you can suggest suitable backing for 3/4 and 4/4 as I am getting bored with just doing the triads. thank you
Thank You.🙏
Just had a go at your technique and WOW!, it is starting to work. Starting to sound good. Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much for your videos. I’ve played piano, oboe, and guitar for decades, but just got a small harp in December. I started rolled chords when I got to that page of the Harpsicle method book. 😂
thanks! very helpful
Wow! I'm so grateful to you! Thank you so very much for this tutorial!
Oh, and today will be my first day trying a rolled chord!!!!
Fabulous!!✨🎶 thank you Christy-Lyn!
I have been trying for so long but still not mastering it 😕. Gonna work on it with this video's until I succeed 🎶🎶🎶.
I hope the video helps, Jacomien! Let me know how it goes and if you have any further questions.
Working on it.
My first time❤
I have one of those harps like you do but my harp is the one you put on your lap can it still work?
My teacher has had me do them from fairly early on.....starting slowly. She also tends to roll her chords most of the time, because she says it "just sounds more harpy!" lol
This awesome! Thank you
I really like you, you are my new friend now 😊 thank you so much 🙏🏻
Thanks for your video - do you have any tips on practicing for the case where the rolled chord is 1-greater than your hand span? ie, this is a chord that you cannot reach as a "block chord" but you could theoretically make work by rolling?
Yes, you can place the notes that you can reach together, and practice that as a block chord (for example fingers 1, 2 and 3) and make sure the other finger is extended and ready even though it can’t fully reach the note, and then when you roll the chord you can roll onto the last note at the end (for example the 4th finger). Not sure if that makes sense, you might need someone to show you how to do that 😁
@@LearningtheHarp Thanks for replying. I think I've understood your explanation (as a small hands person who plays the piano, I've had similar issues there, and it's kind of an analogous problem to solve). I will ask my teacher too just in case I invent a bad habit along the way by mistake!
Thanks again for the videos, and keep it up.
learning this today! on my cherry harpsicle just like yours, no less! hahaha! thanks for the wave analogy, that's lovely 💕🌊🌊🌊
Great!! 😃😃
Great
How many strings does your lap harp have there? What would be the minimum strings that you would suggest for a lap harp?
My lap harp is a Fullsicle from Harpsicle Harps, and it has 26 strings. That’s great because you will be able to play any sheet music written for lap harps / small harps. Another common number of strings for a lap harp is 22 strings but I don’t have much experience playing on that size. I have noticed some of my followers saying they struggle to find enough music to suit their 22 string harp, but that’s certainly getting easier these days, and if you are comfortable adjusting sheet music it could be totally fine! If you go for a 22 string, I would suggest a C to C one, not a G to G one, because that’s even harder to find music for and the range is very high and plinky. I personally wouldn’t go for anything smaller than a 22 string, unless it’s a cardboard harp and you’re wanting to pack it in your suitcase or something 😉
Thank you for the reply!
1st time for rolled cord today.
Congrats, that’s exciting! 😃
I roll anything that's more than two notes. I just love the way rolled chords sound!
Hehe, it does indeed sound beautiful! 😍
Glad I’m not the only one!
Thank you very much ✨✨✨✨🌈🌱☀️♾️
3 months into practicing harp :P Hopefully it's okay to learn chords already
I've been playing about 6 months, and here I am at rolled chords.
Ooh lovely!! It’s such a fun skill to learn 😍
My problem is my left hand is always more uneven than the right so when I join both parts. I need to practise more
Hi Priscilla! Nice to hear from you 🤗 For most of us the left hand is weaker than the right, so you may find that your rolled chords improve if you do more strengthening exercises with your right hand, not only practicing rolled chords 😊💕
@@LearningtheHarp yes, my weakness is my left hand, I have vices to move it and do the same kind of arrangement over and over, but I'm determined to sit down a bit everyday now, my problem is that I play many instruments but i'm mostly focused on piano and winds, I love my harp and have had it a long time now, but I never had formal trained and I have all the vices of a self taught including the claw hand LOL still I started sitting down alone with it again and bit by bit regaining confidence. I know my songs, but I want to play any song :)
Oops I meant more strengthening exercises with your left hand 🤦🏼♀️
@@LearningtheHarp no worries I totally got it :) so far though I'm subscribed to your hannel and I usually watch the videos I must actually revisit with my harp in hand. I'm really happy that you've grown so much.You truely deserve, and top of it, you're not only talented but so sweet. Yes I'll tie my right hand hahah if needed hahaha :) XD hahah
It's all about building the left skills, but I also struggle to do fast passages and ornamentations, I mean i can do roll chords (bit uneven on the trigger) and trills and such but would love to see videos on "overornamentation" in celtic songs like really fast notes and embellishments :)
Hugs. Probably I need to watch /rewatch back videos too
I tried and never succeeded.... but i am trying again and again and again
Been playing for a bit more than a month lol....
I've been practicing for 2 days lol
I still don't get the difference between the rolled cord and Fast Arpeggio😢
A fast arpeggio has a set rhythm which would be written into the sheet music (and takes place across multiple beats), whereas a rolled chord takes place on one beat, and can be as fast or slow as your want it to be, based on the mood of the piece.
Today is my first time.
Over a year.
1 year
First time
At my fifth lesson. So hard
Aw, it gets easier! ❤️ If you want to talk about your specific struggles, there are lovely people on the “Learning the Harp Together” Facebook group who are encouraging and have great advice!
Today 😂
Isn't this what they call milking the cow?
I can’t believe you never write in the description the model, brand and details of the harp you play during the video…..
First time
First time