What is an Autoharp
What is an Autoharp
An autoharp is a stringed musical instrument in the zither family. Despite the name, it's not a harp. Here's what makes it unique:
✅ Key Features:
Shape: Flat, rectangular or trapezoid.
Strings: Usually 36 or 37 strings, tuned to a diatonic or chromatic scale.
Chord Bars: It has buttons that control felt-covered bars. When you press a button, the bar damps all strings except those that form the selected chord.
Play Style: You strum all the strings with a pick or your fingers while pressing the chord button, and only the desired chord rings out.
🎶 Why It’s Popular:
Easy to play chords: Great for beginners and folk musicians.
Used in genres: Folk, country, gospel, and bluegrass.
🛠️ Construction and Features of the Autoharp
The autoharp features a flat, wooden body with strings stretched across its surface. The shape often tapers slightly from one end to the other—this accommodates longer strings for lower-pitched notes and shorter ones for higher tones.
At the lower end of the instrument, you'll find the chord button mechanism positioned above the strings. When you press one of these buttons, a felt-covered bar dampens all strings except those needed for that specific chord. This lets you strum or pluck the strings with your free hand—much like a guitar—while only the desired chord rings out. It’s this system that makes the autoharp especially beginner-friendly.
🎹 Standard Chord Layout
Eb Bb F C G D A
F7 C7 G7 D7 A7 E7 B7
Ab Bb7 Cm Gm Dm Am Em
🎵 Playing Style
The autoharp is usually played in one of two ways:
- Lap-style: Rested upright on the lap.
- Strapped: Hung from the shoulders using a strap for standing performances.
This upright playing position is one key difference from the zither, which lies flat.
Autoharps typically have two to four octaves of range and feature up to 36 strings, depending on the model.