Hal, as you know, I am a long time espouser of lap style playing. It has literally saved my ability to play as I deal with a progressive neuromuscular disorder and (now repaired) fractured spine. The unloading and straightening of the musculature that you demonstrate provides a truly remarkable increase in the comfort and playability of the instrument. The one point I would raise with you is that the crossing of hands such that a righty plays a standard instrument in the lap actually provides some advantages to the nervous system in being able to navigate the string bed with extreme accuracy. With crossed hands, it is possible to play in a manner similar to a keyboard and to let the harp sing individual notes with ease.
Hal, I've been playing the autoharp off and on since the early 1960's. I actually learned how to play it from Pop Stoneman. He and a group of his children had moved to Beaumont, Texas to do some recording and miscellaneous jobbing in the area. I got to know Pop, Donna, Roni, Scotty, Van and Jimmy. They played gigs at the same venues where my folk trio performed, and we wound up doing a lot of shows where we alternated sets. I learned a LOT from them. When I first started playing the autoharp, I played it in the normal "Appalachian Style," like Maybelle Carter, but I learned a lot of my technique from watching Pop Stoneman play. About a half dozen years ago, I had open heart surgery, during which my left carpal nerve cluster suffered a bit of damage, and I found it very uncomfortable to play "normal" autoharp. I got a number of "lefty" harps, and was able to keep playing without missing a strum! I have a fairly nice selection of instruments, including a Desert Rose, which I highly recommend. A lot of great instruments come out of the D'aigle autoharp shop!!!!
This is a terrific video, thanks Hal!!! I'd injured my right rotator cuff long before I ever picked up an autoharp and as a right handed person, I've had a LOT of pain in my right arm between shoulder and elbow due to playing upright. I have tried to play it flat and while it's awkward, it's not impossible. Sometimes I switch it backwards and can play like you would a left handed 'harp. The difference in chord bar position I've easily adapted to and I've been experimenting with playing melody with the thumb pick and rhythm with the finger picks, which makes for an interesting sound.....That being said, I far prefer to play in the upright position. Having the fanny pack under the 'harp helps keep it straight and my bet is having an autoharp harness would help with that as well and take the pressure of holding it in place away...Thanks for yet another great video Hal!!
Hal, thanks for all you do! I'm 74 in a wheelchair and want to play autoharp. Gave up guitar, uke, and tenor banjo due to finger nerve pain, but pressing keys on autoharp seems doable. I'm right handed but want to play lap style. Would there be any advantage to reverse the chord bars on a left hander, since I've no muscle memory of any bar pattern? I guess I'm asking, what pattern can make the quickest chord changes? Thanks for your videos!
I would really like to comment on this: First, thank you, Hal. As always, you are an inspiration and wealth of knowledge. You are appreciated! Second, I recently purchased a D'Aigle autoharp, lap style, left-hand oriented. I absolutely love it! I've had several wrist fractures and playing lap-style alleviates numerous problems with pain and aching wrists. The folks at D'Aigle work with you to help you on your quest for the perfect autoharp for you. Third, I'm looking forward to the next installment of SWA. Shalom y'all.
After breaking my left wrist five months ago, playing in upright position made the pressure on my ‘button’ wrist uncomfortable and I didn’t have the strength I had before. I put my autoharp (a gorgeous Cascade from Pete) flat on my wooden desk with the treble strings near me. This way I could also see the chord names on the buttons. No crossed hands! I have a rather unusual repertoire (pop, rock, musicals, jazz), so my picking style doesn’t need to follow regular patterns. I’ve sort of reversed the use of my thumb and index finger, and it works! Not holding the instrument upright has really freed up my singing, and everyone says the harp sounds amazing. Whatever works, right?😊
At last , someone has identified the mirror images problem of auto haps . I’ve never seen a reverse layout . The most Important thing is not the layout of buttons but I take your point .. it is the fact that the thumb needs to adddress the bass strings like guitar
I was given an autoharp which was too heavy to hold upright .table was fine but it was awkward . It surprises me as the vast majority of zithers are played on the table in Europe .since 95% are right handed it’s weird we have to resort to lefty autoharp to play tabletop fashion
Hi Hal! Thanks for the fine upright video. I have sort of a burning question, though: if you, as a left-handed person, pick with your right hand... well, why shouldn't I, as a righty, just learn to pick with my left hand when playing lap style? I think my left hand is dexterous enough to do that. Not having a background in guitar or mandolin or any such instrument, I find lap style more natural. And with a pickup I don't see any disadvantage to it. But I'm really just learning to play the autoharp, so maybe I'm missing something? Also, if lap style is traditional, and as far as I can tell all the old OS harps are "right-handed", doesn't that mean it was originally intended to be played with the left hand picking? Or just strumming, I guess. Thanks for all your SWA videos. I'm saving up for that d'Aigle!
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I just got my first autoharp and I AM IN LOVE WITH IT!
Hal, as you know, I am a long time espouser of lap style playing. It has literally saved my ability to play as I deal with a progressive neuromuscular disorder and (now repaired) fractured spine. The unloading and straightening of the musculature that you demonstrate provides a truly remarkable increase in the comfort and playability of the instrument.
The one point I would raise with you is that the crossing of hands such that a righty plays a standard instrument in the lap actually provides some advantages to the nervous system in being able to navigate the string bed with extreme accuracy. With crossed hands, it is possible to play in a manner similar to a keyboard and to let the harp sing individual notes with ease.
Hal, I've been playing the autoharp off and on since the early 1960's. I actually learned how to play it from Pop Stoneman. He and a group of his children had moved to Beaumont, Texas to do some recording and miscellaneous jobbing in the area. I got to know Pop, Donna, Roni, Scotty, Van and Jimmy. They played gigs at the same venues where my folk trio performed, and we wound up doing a lot of shows where we alternated sets. I learned a LOT from them. When I first started playing the autoharp, I played it in the normal "Appalachian Style," like Maybelle Carter, but I learned a lot of my technique from watching Pop Stoneman play. About a half dozen years ago, I had open heart surgery, during which my left carpal nerve cluster suffered a bit of damage, and I found it very uncomfortable to play "normal" autoharp. I got a number of "lefty" harps, and was able to keep playing without missing a strum! I have a fairly nice selection of instruments, including a Desert Rose, which I highly recommend. A lot of great instruments come out of the D'aigle autoharp shop!!!!
Yeah; Stonemans did great stuff. I was just playing a laptop Desert Rose this morning.
Thanks for all your good lap style pointers!
This must be the best and most detailed presentation of autoharp design playing and anatomy I’ve ever come across. Very well done. Excellent
Thanks for that.
This is a terrific video, thanks Hal!!! I'd injured my right rotator cuff long before I ever picked up an autoharp and as a right handed person, I've had a LOT of pain in my right arm between shoulder and elbow due to playing upright. I have tried to play it flat and while it's awkward, it's not impossible. Sometimes I switch it backwards and can play like you would a left handed 'harp. The difference in chord bar position I've easily adapted to and I've been experimenting with playing melody with the thumb pick and rhythm with the finger picks, which makes for an interesting sound.....That being said, I far prefer to play in the upright position. Having the fanny pack under the 'harp helps keep it straight and my bet is having an autoharp harness would help with that as well and take the pressure of holding it in place away...Thanks for yet another great video Hal!!
I love that you addressed the issue of chair height vs leg length. Thanks as always for great content.
Hal, thanks for all you do! I'm 74 in a wheelchair and want to play autoharp. Gave up guitar, uke, and tenor banjo due to finger nerve pain, but pressing keys on autoharp seems doable. I'm right handed but want to play lap style. Would there be any advantage to reverse the chord bars on a left hander, since I've no muscle memory of any bar pattern? I guess I'm asking, what pattern can make the quickest chord changes? Thanks for your videos!
I would really like to comment on this: First, thank you, Hal. As always, you are an inspiration and wealth of knowledge. You are appreciated! Second, I recently purchased a D'Aigle autoharp, lap style, left-hand oriented. I absolutely love it! I've had several wrist fractures and playing lap-style alleviates numerous problems with pain and aching wrists. The folks at D'Aigle work with you to help you on your quest for the perfect autoharp for you. Third, I'm looking forward to the next installment of SWA. Shalom y'all.
After breaking my left wrist five months ago, playing in upright position made the pressure on my ‘button’ wrist uncomfortable and I didn’t have the strength I had before. I put my autoharp (a gorgeous Cascade from Pete) flat on my wooden desk with the treble strings near me. This way I could also see the chord names on the buttons. No crossed hands! I have a rather unusual repertoire (pop, rock, musicals, jazz), so my picking style doesn’t need to follow regular patterns. I’ve sort of reversed the use of my thumb and index finger, and it works! Not holding the instrument upright has really freed up my singing, and everyone says the harp sounds amazing. Whatever works, right?😊
At last , someone has identified the mirror images problem of auto haps . I’ve never seen a reverse layout . The most Important thing is not the layout of buttons but I take your point .. it is the fact that the thumb needs to adddress the bass strings like guitar
Thanks, very helpful
I was given an autoharp which was too heavy to hold upright .table was fine but it was awkward . It surprises me as the vast majority of zithers are played on the table in Europe .since 95% are right handed it’s weird we have to resort to lefty autoharp to play tabletop fashion
Immer wieder > Herrlich. 👍👍
Hi Hal! Thanks for the fine upright video.
I have sort of a burning question, though: if you, as a left-handed person, pick with your right hand... well, why shouldn't I, as a righty, just learn to pick with my left hand when playing lap style? I think my left hand is dexterous enough to do that.
Not having a background in guitar or mandolin or any such instrument, I find lap style more natural. And with a pickup I don't see any disadvantage to it. But I'm really just learning to play the autoharp, so maybe I'm missing something?
Also, if lap style is traditional, and as far as I can tell all the old OS harps are "right-handed", doesn't that mean it was originally intended to be played with the left hand picking? Or just strumming, I guess.
Thanks for all your SWA videos. I'm saving up for that d'Aigle!
I assume you do repairs. 😊
Can the chord bars be removed from the autoharp if they’re broken and still be played?
I would love an autoharp that I didn’t have to cross arms!
❤😊
Hello everyone, I'm looking for an autoharp for left-handers... so far I haven't had any success, does anyone have an idea... Regards Frank
We build those. Any of our models can be built for left hand. Autoharp.com.