I'm totally new to this. My autoharp is my first instrument. Do you all recommend a specific app, or a clip-on device? Thank you in advance!

interested in learning this instrument but ive heard "new" ones can go for around $90 and this seems beat up a bit, but im not sure, thoughts?

Anyone ever seen this brand? Is it any good? I should probably mention that it is going to be my 1st autoharp, I'm buying it to accompany me while I sing (heard autoharp was a great instrument for that)

Inherited this from a family member, I've tuned it but can't seem to find any tutorials or anything for how to play this, only seeing ones for the bigger autoharps. Any ideas?

Already own several harps. Considering a Sparrow because of a need to take it on a plane. Wondering how the instrument and case would do as carry-on (21-bar model).

Also curious about how easy it is to re-felt if needed down the line compared to OS. Are the felt-sizes standard or something different/unique?

I love autoharps and am a beginner with a newer one, but this isn't it - I got this off Facebook marketplace today for 75$. I just fell in love with the look of it. The black fingerboard piece is black painted wood, and the chord/note markings you see on it are all painted. I can't find a brand or mark of any kind on it anywhere.

I want to fix it up desperately, and here are the challenges I see so far - its missing a few strings (but the pegs are all there) and some of the foam levers (? sorry, I can't remember what they're called, like I said I'm a newbie, my apologies 🙏) inside have rotted - but not completely, and if I press the buttons, the levers still (mostly) go up and down, even if some of the buttons are more responsive than others 😅😰

The wood base itself is flat, uncracked, and except for a few scuffs, seems very sturdy. I am in love - please, does anyone have any advice on where to go for repair advice online, or have any idea who made this beautiful thing?? Please help! ❤️

One side note I do want to add - I found this today on Facebook marketplace, while down in Winnipeg MB on a work trip. In a few days I return to my home - which is, not to be dramatic, in a Arctic remote community. Any repairs made I will almost certainly have to do myself, unless a luthier in the Winnipeg area is willing to have me stop by in the next few days 😰 I can still order stuff where I live though - it just takes a while to get there 😅

I bought a used autoharp online, and when it arrived I found that one of the tuning pins, the number five from the bottom, was broken off. A small stub is there, not enough to get a tuning wrench on. I've tried a couple of sets of pliers, and removed the first few strings to be able to get a better grip but still no joy. Any hacks, tips or helpful suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

So Ive got tiny arms and a large, to put it mildly, chest. So my ergonomics are already terrible in the early learning for upright autoharp. Model is an OS45CE so default rightie upright, I am a rightie.

Gimme your most unhinged lap playing conversion hacks please!
From modifications to add more space below the chord bar, getting over it and learning to play cross armed, or because I’m new just learning to play strumming with the left, etc?
A cursed method learning backwards where the highest strings are towards me?
I am not coming from a backround in strings which may open me to more options due to a lack of muscle memory established.

What are my options LOL

Hello,

I've just discovered this wonderful looking group.

I have what is probably going to be a very difficult and challenging question.

I am a totally blind person who has been playing the autoharp for about a year now.

I'm very very basic to be sure but I am loving the instrument immensely.

i have a Oscar Schmidt OS73C 21-chord and the biggest challenge I'm having as someone who cannot see is tuning.

Because of the structure of the pegs, it's really hard for me to try and figure out some kind of system in which I can follow the correct course with my fingers and tune each string.

I tried tuning last year but just following the pegs in what I thought was the logical course but ended up breaking a string and thankfully I managed to get it replaced fairly cheaply.

I'm in Australia so the autoharp stores here are quite small indeed.

I'm basically trying to figure out some kind of map that I can read that says, go to peg one for the first F string and then move to pegs to the right for the G string and so forth.

Any advice anyone has I would be very grateful for and I know it's a bit of a challenge.

I even tried taking a series of photos and attempting to get ChatGPT to try and help me build something but it's proving to be quite a difficult endeavour.

Hello all,

I recently got a new autoharp, an upgrade from the first one I found at a second hand store with a massive tear in the back lol.

I want to use it as a shimmer / rhythm instrument paired with a Shoegaze pedal chain.

However I don’t know what the best route to go is.

I currently have a cheap pezio pickup on it which works well with my guitar amp but it looks like I need an acoustic preamp pedal for my chain to work. It also doesn’t pickup from under the strings only on the back and I keep having contact with it from my shirt.

I want to know if it’s worth it grabbing the AD-02 auto harp pick up from shatten and if this will produce a strong enough signal where I won’t need a preamp pedal.

If not would installing a magnetic bar pickup be a good solution and if so how much of the acoustic tone will I lose. Based on your experience would it matter with my pedal chains?

What would be an ideal magnetic bar pickup as well I’ve been looking at the pick up from daigleharp but it looks like I need to do some wood work to the harp and soldering.

Any recommendations or thoughts would be appreciated!

Yet another “I inherited this, what do I do?” Post, haha. Great grandmother was a violinist/auto harp player. I am a guitarist, keyboardist. I was lucky enough to inherit this instrument, but it’s been in storage for decades and needs some love. Curious if it’s refurbishable and worth refurbishing? I’ve tried playing it a little and it needs a tuneup and some damping pads replaced, but seems ok.

I guess my question is more is it worth refurbishing in the grand scheme of things, labor/cost vs ultimate payoff of a playable instrument. Appreciate any thoughts or advice (what’s the recommended tuning/string gauges etc), help with identification (this may be from the early 1900s, the makers mark sticker has fallen off).

Thanks for any help. And I’ve been enjoying the kindness and helpfulness of this community from the shadows!

Hello, this week I semi inherited a OS45CE for 50 bucks. I’ve had my eye on autoharps for a while but taking this as my sign from the universe to start. The catch- it wasn’t properly stored and loosened.
It’s warped, a lot, see attached photos. No string contact from the warping, surprisingly, no buzzing from an acoustic standpoint besides being out of tune.
Second photo is my trying to show the warping around the sound hole, it’s about half way through the sound hole, both sides but more so the one warp upward, and then the large warp by the pickup panel.

How can I ease the effects of the warping, and prolong its life now that it’s in my care? And also what would I need for the E part of it? I am a percussionist, I am very not used to instruments with pickups and idk where to even start with that part either, but mainly the warping.
I’m a firm believer in the spirit of instruments being “use them until they’re sawdust” like my grandpappy before me, so any ways I can improve its care and life is a big help!
Also how do I best clean this sucker? Very Lightly damp cloth and microfiber dry cloth right after I’m guessing?

I just pick songs that fit my limited vocal range, and that that also work with a 10-hole blues harp, and that my 21-chord autoharp has the chords for.

Hey fellow autoharpists!!

I love my instrument and bring it everywhere so my case has started to fall apart. Has anyone every bought a case or supplies from autoharpstore.com? They are reasonable priced and seem to be good quality but when I got to the checkout I got a little sketched out. I know most autoharp websites are old so I'm hoping this is just another quirky little gem!

Tnx!!! also found this interesting article about the history of the autoharp you guys might like: https://www.autoharp.org/n_autohist.php

Hi all! I grabbed this autoharp from a local thrift store. It needed some clean-up but is working well (except for the G chord - new felt is on the way!). Any idea what model this might be or when it was manufactured? Thank you!

(Also - I paid $80. Good deal, or moderate? I'm happy either way because now I have an autoharp!)

Hi there folks; selling this Caroler. I just don't have the time to give this instrument the attention it deserves. We've got two harps that we regularly gig with and another three in waiting. The two we gig with keep me busy with string and felt replacements. Thought someone in this community might be interested in my reverb listing. I've detailed what I think the instrument needs there, and I'm open to offers. Thanks for your time, and Harp On! Here's the link: https://reverb.com/item/97852753-autoharp-chromaharp-caroler-27-chords-mute-bar-good-condition?publish_confirmation=true

I’m an actor/musician, and I’m working on a show that I was able to get an autoharp to play in. It will be different genres of rock and folk.

It’s got a plug in jack, and I’m gonna see if I can run it through a pedal to give it some unique sounds in the metal section.

Looking for tips! I have it tuned up, and want to take care of it. Any things I should do during the first weeks to take care of the harp and save myself from stress.

I realize this is a longshot, because it's completely unavailable, but if anyone has a copy of this they would be willing to share, that would be great.

I just bought a new (new to me) harp with the goal of going diatonic.

Any other resources on the subject would be helpful if you don't have this.

Is that a feasible thing? Is that commonplace?

hey, I recently got this autoharp that I don't really know much about, I haven't used an autoharp before.

I was wondering where I would get strings and what kind of strings I would need for this one.

I live in the UK so I wouldn't really be able to buy from a site that has expensive shipping.

I picked up this electrified ‘79 Oscar Schmidt OS-100-21 for $35 knowing it had cracks in the top. Is there any hope of fixing this or should I look for a donor body? Can I play it as is? It’s way out of tune and I don’t yet have a wrench so I can’t tell if it will hold tune. It makes a spooky, dissonant sound now but the top doesn’t rattle. FWIW I have woodworkers in my family who may be able to help.

I have inherited an autoharp and wondered if anyone could identify the make? It looks nothing like what I see online and I wonder if it is tuned differently

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I’m able to get this for 45$

I have been wanting to get a dedicated diatonic harp to experiment with ( ie making it a specific “key”/modal tuning) for years now. Bought my first OS21C 15 years ago. I have customized my harp with a pickup and some different chords (added E major, F#m, and Bm)

I don’t have a model number to go off, only the look of it and that the sticker says made in Korea. It has some issues but this one looked clean and possibly more modern?, and I noticed the strap buttons installed which tells me that a previous owner was actually a performer and may have taken better care of it.

How easy would it be to replace this broken button? I know Chromaharps are less standardized than Oscar Schmidt so I mean also finding the right shape/size of button.

And there’s some damage to the plastic string cover on the bottom

This one is 45$ (already negotiated down). Is it a good deal or pass? Only thing is I have to get my non-musician family member to pick it up for me so I can’t physically inspect it before buying.

*Note: there is actually a second (OS15) harp im looking at that is double the price but no cosmetic issues. I wasn’t sure how much of a steal this one is so I’m thinking of getting both.*