❤❤❤ UNBELIEVABLE! I'm a 73yr old violin player and this is my first time learning to play a harp. I tuned my harp just as you explained and OMG I could cry, the sound is perfect.. It sounds so beautiful 😢😂❤ I love all your videos, they're so helpful. Thank you ever so much. ❤
Ohhhh congratulations! How wonderful! I’ve always dreamed of owning a harp. They are too expensive for me. But I listen to them and watch how to play them anyway. lol I’m so excited for you! ❤️❤️❤️ I’m 60 yrs old, and I have actually started saving for a harp one day. You give me such inspiration!
I’m almost 40 and have wanted to play the harp since elementary school. They’re expensive so I’m watching videos to learn in theory before I spend any money lol. These videos are great!
this is incredibly helpful and well made- thank you very much! i have never played an instrument before and i have just bought a 22 string harp - im very excited!
That's so exciting, congratulations! I hope you have lots of fun learning it :) Make sure you watch the rest of the videos in this beginner series to learn the right body position and technique!
Where did you buy your harp? And how much was it? If you don’t mind my asking. I have always dreamed of having a harp. But they are so expensive. 🥴 But I love them so much! 🥰
I have been looking for good harp instructions for a while. I gave up and started praying instead. I believe with your videos, my prayers were answered. So clear, informative and impressively done! Thank you!!!!!!!
Ah that’s so amazing, Rosa!! I’m honored to be an answer to your prayers. From my side I’m always praying that I’ll be able to help people really well through the videos and courses I make, so that’s wonderful to hear. This is perfect timing actually, because we’ve just launched a free trial on my website. You can get a free harp course of your choice! When you’re done with this video series on TH-cam, you can choose your next song to learn on our website and get the course free, yay! 😄 Have fun and all the best with your learning! 💕
Just great advice, really. Love your gentle, always smiling and supportive way of explaining all we and our harps need. We'll never thank you enough! :)
Hey Scout, That's so wonderful! If you'd like you could also check out our website to get going on learning a few pieces. We have a beginners bundle which is a great way to get going! If you're looking for some direction please feel free to email us at hello@learningtheharp.com. Keen to see where your harp journey takes you! xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
I was surprised at how much the tiniest movements with the key changed the sound of the string; I also had a really hard time keeping track of which peg went to which string without quite some concentration. I suppose that might be a matter of practice and familiarity. (I can't help compare how much easier I find tuning a violin, haha - I miss fine tuners.)
Thanks so much. I was taking classes and stopped because l moved far from my teacher. I forgot all l learned and these classes have reminded me of what l learned. You are so explicit and the classes are super detailed. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤
I was attracted to an amazon ad for a beautiful harp, i have never played an instrument before. I found you after being curious what kinds of lessons are out there because the sound is just so beautiful and so is the instrument. Whether i continue to learn or not after this series, just want you to know i think you are fantastic!! Thank you so much for the inspiration.
I used to watch your videos for a while, but I just got my harp two days ago (double strung Brea from Stoney End) I can actually say I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOU and your lessons are so thorough and easy to follow ❤ thank you for your hard work you put out here for us to learn along! ❤
I didn’t think I could feasibly play the harp, between the cost and learning from scratch. I don’t really have a musical background. But these videos are sooo helpful, clear and friendly! I am going to start saving for a harp in 2021. How can we best support your content? Keep up the good work 😊
I don’t know if you’re doing this for the fun of the video or if you’re really this sweet. You seem very kind. I want to buy and learn the harp to play songs for the LORD Almighty 💕
My 8 year old grandson decided he wanted to learn to play the harp, so I bought a little inexpensive harp. It's been sitting in our living room for several months now because it was so badly out of tune and I didn't know what notes they were meant to be. Thanks so much for this! It was easy to understand and easy to do.
Christy-Lyn, Thank you so much for these delightful videos. I am watching them all to see if the hunger for learning harp I am experiencing is feasible for me to feed at age 68. You are such a beautiful person! Actually I fell in love with you from "My Lord Delivered Daniel". I was so happy to find you here and for the opportunity to more fully appreciate your great talent, infectious enthusiasm and amazing teaching ability. I live in Washington State in the US but I have lived in Port Elizabeth, Port Shepstone and in Klerksdorp. You make me miss it a lot.... Blessings to you!
First, I repeat all the accolades below. Very fun and educational to watch/listen. Well done. Second, and not to argue, but the instructions w/ my new and first harp say to tune the C strings first (long to short), then the F's (long to short) and finally the white strings. Better, or just a different technique for a different brand of harp? The claim is that this balances the pressure on the sound bar. Dunno, just saying. Keep on teaching, gal! I really enjoy your enthusiasm and knowledge. Cheers.
Thanks for the compliments! 😃 Maybe that can help, but I’ve personally watched harp makers and technicians tune from bottom to top so it must also be ok 👍🏻
I like this a lot! I'm a 63 year old guitar player, mainly 1970's rock music, but with a real interest in folk, country and European traditional music. Being a Welshman (living in Wales) I tend to like a lot of Irish and Welsh stuff, I'm a bit reluctant to say celtic as I'm not sure that's correct. I have a real intent to learn the harp and I think just watching your first 3 lessons has really demystified the harp, which is great. Could I ask you about your harp, is it a 29 string (haven't counted them, I'm just guessing), what brand is it and where could I get one from? I'm off to watch part 4 ! Big thank you.
Mine is a 26 string Fullsicle from Harpsicle Harps. It’s good for learning on if you also buy the floor stand, but that does add to the price. I would recommend starting on a floor harp if you can afford it. Take a look at the Ravenna 26 or Ravenna 34 from Dusty Strings, if you can afford it that would be a great starter harp!
i was really curious (from a guitar player’s perspective) from the first couple videos of how you get sharp or flat notes, but apparently you tune the harp into the key you’re playing instead? whereas in guitar you can switch between keys by simply holding down different frets, flattening or sharpening notes instantly. this is super intriguing! it sounds comfortable to always be playing in key when you tune it specifically for a certain one. please do correct me if i’m wrong with my assumptions! i am very interested in this beautiful instrument and how it’s played
It depends on whether you have levers on your harp or not. If you have levers, you move the levers up or down to change into different keys. If you don’t have levers you have to retune the harp or just play only pieces in one key. The big classical harps have pedals to change the key with your feet.
@@LearningtheHarp ooh i see! thank you so much for the response, levers seem very versatile in this case, i’ll continue finishing up this video series!
I don't know if it is the same for Harps, but when you're tuning a Guitar you always tune up to the note, rather than tuning down to the note because of stability...
Hi! I find your videos very helpful !! I just have one question, when I'm tuning my strings a lot of them are starting to stick to the note I tune them to for a little but some keep sliding drastically down the second I take the tuning thing off. I think in another video you mentioned something about pushing the pegs into the harp? Could you explain that a little more? I just got my harp today so I know they're bound to get off the tune often but I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong with those strings that keep going down a lot. Also one of my strings sounds muted because it seems to be pushing against the lever when its turned down is there anyway to fix that issue that you know of ? Again your videos are amazing I love them!
I’m new to the harp and I feel like sometimes when I tune a certain note and go back to an another note that I tuned before that it comes undone. I’m using the free version of the app you suggested maybe I should pay for the one you use or maybe it’s me I’m not sure.
I played concert harp over 50 yrs ago in highschool .Now bought a 19 string lap harp. One string "B4"gets out of tune within 5 seconds constantly. What can I do? I thought i read something about pressing on teh peg hard with palm of other hand when u tune that particular string and it will help. Its not working for me. Thoughts?
Hi Chris. May I ask at what frequency do you tune your harp to? Mine is 432, as advised by the maker of my harp. What difference does it make if it is another frequency? Sorry to ask, I am quite new to music theories
@LearningtheHarp - I have a question. I had music lessons, with piano, as a child over 20 years ago. We never really used the letters A, B, C, ... but rather do, re, mi. Now I know that do is C. The thing is that the do (C) and sol (G) were always my reference key notes on the piano back then, so when starting to play the harp on my own recently, I habitually started tuning C (do) to the blue string. Now I see you tune the C to the red string instead of the blue string, while for me it makes more sense - visually - to use the blue string for C. Probably also because the first string on my harp (a smaller, Celtic harp) is a blue one. I've been practicing playing a few songs already by way of getting to know my harp and where the strings are, and I fear that if I have to tune it all to start with the red string as C, I'm going to be totally lost again. What should I do? Do I really need to put C on red instead of blue?
Hi there! I can see your dilemma, it must be frustrating to think about retraining your brain! But I would strongly recommend you tune your harp back to the correct notes urgently, because the amount of tension your harp is designed to withstand is specifically designed for the strings to be tuned to the correct notes, and if you tune it differently by a fourth interval, it would be unplayable if you had tuned it down (the strings would be very loose), so you’ve probably tuned it up, which means that your harp now has an extra-high amount of tension on the soundboard, and it will cause damage to the wood of your harp and start to warp it quite quickly. It could even cause your soundboard to “explode”, where the wood breaks outwards. So even just for that reason it’s very important to tune back to the correct pitch! But also I think if you look ahead to many years of playing the harp, the amount of time you’ve spent so far is probably very small in the bigger picture, so I think it would be very worth retraining yourself to the correct notes so you’re more easily able to learn from teaching materials in the future. I’m sure you’ll adjust after a week or two, it probably won’t take as long as you think 😊👍🏻 Hope that helps!
@@LearningtheHarpthank you so much for your fast reply! I figured you would recommend that, but I wanted to make sure first! I didn't know about the tension of the strings causing problems over time. I guess I'll just have to make the adjustments then, better now than later when it's even more difficult to retrain the brain! I've had this harp for over 20 years, I bought it back then simply because it's so beautiful and it has always been a center piece in our home. So I bought it as decor and never seriously attempted to try and play something on it - until recently. I got started on it thanks to my 6 year old daughter. Since the harp is such a center piece, it's always caught her eye and she's been wanting to play on it (even though it's just making simple sounds with the strings). Since I never played myself, I almost never tuned it (but when I did, it was with the C at the blue string). Recently, she's been wanting to play the Paw Patrol song on it (she's a fan of that show) and me trying to teach her, got my fingers itchy and so I started to play myself. I've been working on playing a simple version of "Evergreen" by Two Steps From Hell (if you don't know their music, please check it out, it's amazing!) but after re-tuning all the strings I'll probably have to partially start over again haha! I've been watching your videos so far up to the one with the tuning instructions, will definitely watch the others too! Thank you again for your advice, it's very much appreciated!
@@LearningtheHarp Sorry to bother you again. I have retuned the harp to C as you recommended, meaning I had to tune the pitch down. I have the levers down for this, as I saw you do too in your video. Now I notice that the strings very quickly get out of tune again - after half an hour they are already somewhat incorrect again already (this didn't happen before I tuned everything down). Is this normal in the beginning, and will the strings still settle so they don't go out of tune so fast? Or could this be the result of the harp being tuned incorrectly for a very long period (even though it was almost never played on until recently)? Also, all these years it was not used, the levers had been up and locked constantly. I recently read somewhere else that this is not good for the strings either. I must say, though, that on the soundboard I see no damage whatsoever (no cracks in the wood or anything of the kind that I can see). My harp has 19 strings apparently. I tried to look up the same model again, and found it on Amazon (where I probably bought it many years ago) but slightly different and now with 22 strings (starting with a red one): www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/UZMAN-Versand-Keltische-snaren-tonkleppen-Lyra-Lyre/dp/B075WY7151/ Would a 22-string harp be better than a 19 one? Now the songs I want to play I suddenly need to play at a lower pitch, which doesn't sound nearly as nice as before. There is also a similar Celtic harp, slightly different in design and with 27 strings: www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/Uzman-Keltische-Harfe-snaren-tonkleppen/dp/B01958P25K/ I don't know which would be better or what I should do. Please help?
Yes it will just take some time for the strings to settle, that’s normal when you retune to a different key. Since your strings are so old I’m surprised they didn’t break when you tuned them up, so there’s still a risk they will start breaking as old strings do 😊 A 27 string harp starting on C would allow you to play more songs, but I wouldn’t rush to buy another cheap harp, because if you enjoy playing you would be better off investing in a higher quality instrument rather than having multiple harps that are cheap - these tend to break, sometimes after a long time, sometimes after only a few months of playing. And a higher quality harp will have a much more satisfying sound! 😃
@@LearningtheHarpthank you once again for your advice! I think you're right and that it's better to go straight for a better quality harp that I can use for much longer. It'll come out cheaper in the end instead of buying cheaper harps that won't last very long. In my search, I found the Salvi Juni 27, which is of course much more expensive than the one on Amazon, but - I hope - of much better quality too. I could go for a 34 strings right away, but those are even bigger and I am also considering transporting issues, as I want to be able to take the harp with me to places. So this seems a good compromise as this one has more strings than my current one, and is yet compact and transportable. And if I ever get to the point, somewhere in the distant future, that I really do feel the need to go to a harp with 34 or more strings, then I can still consider it! The good news for now is that playing the same songs as before on my retuned harp doesn't seem to be as difficult as I feared it would be, in regards to where the blue and red strings are in relation to the notes. So retraining my brain should not be too much of an issue! Thank you again for all your great advice, I will soon continue to watch the rest of your videos!
Blessings Im a first time learning an instrument and reading music i started oct 2018 Im self taught by you and tiffany Thank you ladies. 😍😍😘😘 My harp i bought brand new 35 strings full levers from Pakistan i really like it but my last upper strings dont tune well they sound off😞 . i know how to tune but those strings r like tight so i dont want to tighten ant more even though the tuner reads flat😬 Any suggestions Thanks again for all your help💝💝💝
Perhaps the tuning pin has started coming out a bit, so it’s slipping. Try pushing it further into the harp as you turn, that could help to secure it in place.
It is better to tune your harp with the levers unengaged (“open”) because it is more accurate and the strings will last longer. Having the levers engaged during playing depends on what key the piece is in, and what key you tuned your harp in. For more info about that, you can watch my video “should I tune my harp in C or E flat?”.
Hey Luke! Hmmm, that's interesting!🤔 It could be the make. If you're wanting to find out which string is which, you could either ask your harp maker, or if that doesn't work, tell us how many strings there are and we can guess what the normal range is based on the size😁. xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
Hey! It's generally better to tune with the levers down- otherwise all the strain of the string tightening is on the tiny piece of string between the tuning peg and the lever. That can make it more likely that your string will break, and it also means that when you disengage the lever, it's not actually in tune.😊 xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
Question! Should all of the levers at the top be down when tuning? I am using my friend's harp and it's tuned correctly when the levers are flipped up, but when flipped down all of the notes are much lower.
Yes the levers should be down when tuning. It sounds like your friend’s harp is probably tuned in E flat major instead of C major. You can watch my video “how to tune your harp in Eb major” and it’ll help you understand what to do 😊👍🏻
I e just bought my son a 22 string harp. He is a guitar player and wants to learn the harp for his music. What is the best way to tune it to start? Thanks.
He needs to learn which string is which, and then tune the strings like I demonstrated in this video 😊👍🏻 Here’s a video where you can learn which note is which: th-cam.com/video/VW0H8b2OHSM/w-d-xo.html
Oh my goodness, my first instructor taught me to have my levers pulled up on all my A, B and E strings to be in the key of C, did I misunderstand or was I tuning in a different key?
That’s totally fine! I also tune that way usually (in the key of E flat) because it means I can play in flat keys and sharp keys. I have a video explaining why you might choose to tune in C or E flat, called “should I tune my harp in C or E flat?”. That should explain what you’re wondering 😊👍🏻
I just got a harp, I’m not sure if I am doing something wrong but whenever I tune a string the peg becomes very loose and doesn’t stay where it is tuned and makes the string become very loose. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi there, sorry I missed this comment! Did you manage to figure it out? It might help to push the tuning peg further into the wood as you turn it - perhaps it’s come out and bit and is loose? But it’s surprising that’s happening with every string. I would phone or email the people you bought your harp from and see what they say 👍🏻
Hello, I have a travel harp. I bought used but from a music store. It did not come with a book on how to play it or a tuning tool which you mentioned in your video. I, very much, enjoy listening to you and watching your videos. I would like to follow your step by step “beginners learning to play the harp” series. But, of course, I need a tuning tool. My harp was made by an Italian harp making company. As I live in the US I would prefer to purchase one here. Do you recommend anything specific for my harp. I believe it has 22 strings but one is missing. I just learned today as I was watching your video that the missing string is named F. It is very near the top of my harp. Thank you for your help.
Hi Valerie! I would suggest you phone the nearest harp shop, and ask them for advice on buying a tuning key and replacement string. They will be able to post them to you. Perhaps you could send them an email with a photo of your harp, and a closeup of the head of the tuning pins so they can see which type of tuning key you would need. Another option is to contact your harp maker and request a tuning key, and ask for advice about the string. You really shouldn’t be given a harp without a tuning key, that’s very strange.
Oh dear, you better figure out the right octave or it could really damage the soundboard of your harp! This isn’t something I can answer in a TH-cam comment. Could you phone the maker of your harp? This is a very important question.
That’s very normal with a new harp - it takes up to two weeks for the strings to settle 😅 Just keep tuning as often as your can bear to, and it will settle quicker the more you tune! 😅
In this video I tuned in the key of C, which is the most common key for beginner harp music. So yes, you can keep your levers down for most songs after this. But when you play in a different key, you will need to change your levers 😊
Why do we tune the harp to the exact string note rather than lifting up the levers?? Will we learn it eventually through your video..? Please lemme know. Thanks
It’s more accurate, and better for the strings 😊 The levers push down on the strings so when you tune with the levers engaged, the strings get scraped and could wear down more quickly and break sooner than they would have. Also when you tune the string and the lever is engaged, the lever holds onto the string and the change isn’t distributed through the whole string, so the tuning isn’t accurate. So it’s just a good habit to get into, and healthier for your harp.
Is it possible to tune this lever harp one semitone below? I have a baroque transverse wooden flute tuned in A=415Hz (A flat). Its basic scale is in D major, but sounds D flat major (A=415Hz). I would like to learn to play this lever harp for playing with my baroque flute.
Hey Judy - if you're still looking, and haven't checked out Christy-Lyn's video on what you need to consider when choosing a harp to buy: th-cam.com/video/TkeSVPv3xlg/w-d-xo.html Then I'd suggest asking the harp community from there if you're looking for more answers. We have a Facebook group called "Learning the Harp Together" and there are lots of harp players who've played on many different harps 🤗 xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
Just ordered a harp and Im not sure if its going to come with a tuner? I ordered an entry level gear4music 19string. What tuner size do I need? I searched lije evrywhere for this info and no joy:(Thanks!
Use a tuning app like PanoTuner, put all your levers down, and tune each string until it’s in tune on the app, with red strings tuned to the note C, black/blue strings tuned to the note F, and everything in between being C D E F G A B C. I also have a video called “How to tune your harp into C”. Hope that helps!
When you tune in a major key for example C major, you are automatically also in the relative minor key, in this case A minor. You just start the scale at A instead of C.
I just got my harp today! Yay! What’s the best way to tune the highest strings? I tried the tuner app, a korg tuner, and a snark tuner. All had a lot of trouble picking up these strings. Am I just not plucking them hard enough? I’m afraid of breaking a string.
Don’t be afraid of breaking a string! It’s impossible to do that from plucking too hard. You could also pluck those strings with your nail when tuning to give a clearer sound 😊
Hi! Christy-Lyn is from South Africa, which is probably the accent you're hearing come through 😋 Those are great instruments 🎵 Xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
That’s probably right. It’s usually not far off when you get the harp, so if your harp came like that, keep tuning it that way. As long as the correct string colours are tuned to the correct notes 👍🏻
I should have said it's a second hand harp 1970 s. The metal strings have 7 or 8 wraps! I was afraid to touch them in case of breakage. Some of the nylon ones are strangely strung too, with the wraps a bit far in so that the string is at an angle on the tuning pin instead of straight up. Is it ok to leave them like this? Thanks so much for your help Christy-Lyn 😃
Maybe your harp is adjusting, and the strings are going out of tune again by the time you finish tuning. If your harp is brand new, or new to your house, or hasn’t been tuned for a long time, or has new strings, that’s normal in the beginning. Keep tuning often and it will settle down 😊
i also got super frustrated bc the apps kept picking up on background noise and it made it impossible it took me more than an hour and a broken string :( time to get an actual mechanical tuner
Oh no!! 😭😭 Sorry about your broken string!! Very sad when that happens. It can happen very easily and is something to watch out for. If the note doesn’t seem to be changing on the tuner and you are turning the tuning pin of your harp, check that you’re on the right string. With regards to the tuning app, are you using PanoTuner? It usually works very well, so perhaps you are tuning in a very noisy place? When there’s background noise I have found it helpful to rest my phone against the wood of my harp which allows the tuning app to get a stronger sound by picking up the vibrations too.
Frustrated, I have a lyre, admittedly a cheap one, As soon as I tune the last string, all the others are out of tune. I bought a harp as well, but wanted to get the lyre down first.
Aw sorry you’re frustrated! I don’t know anything about lyres, but it is very normal with a new harp (or one that has just been transported) for it to take some time to settle the tuning. If it’s very new the strings could be settling, and moving it into a room of a different temperature can also mean it needs to settle. I’m no lyre expert, but it’s possible that’s pretty normal. You just need to keep tuning often, try not to get frustrated, and it should settle in a few days or maximum a couple of weeks 😬 Hope that helps ❤️
Hehe, it is a bit! But you get used to it, and you get quicker at tuning the more you do it. Now it takes me less than 5 mins and it’s quite satisfying 😄
![Irish Harp Lesson 1 - [The Basics] Start Here](/img/n.gif)
I love your accent and how you explain it. You teach really well thank you.
❤❤❤ UNBELIEVABLE! I'm a 73yr old violin player and this is my first time learning to play a harp. I tuned my harp just as you explained and OMG I could cry, the sound is perfect.. It sounds so beautiful 😢😂❤ I love all your videos, they're so helpful. Thank you ever so much. ❤
Ohhhh congratulations! How wonderful! I’ve always dreamed of owning a harp. They are too expensive for me. But I listen to them and watch how to play them anyway. lol
I’m so excited for you! ❤️❤️❤️
I’m 60 yrs old, and I have actually started saving for a harp one day.
You give me such inspiration!
❤ I’m 40 and have been playing the violin from
I was 8. I have always loved the sound of the harp, I’m inspired
I’m almost 40 and have wanted to play the harp since elementary school. They’re expensive so I’m watching videos to learn in theory before I spend any money lol. These videos are great!
this is incredibly helpful and well made- thank you very much! i have never played an instrument before and i have just bought a 22 string harp - im very excited!
That's so exciting, congratulations! I hope you have lots of fun learning it :) Make sure you watch the rest of the videos in this beginner series to learn the right body position and technique!
Where did you buy your harp? And how much was it? If you don’t mind my asking. I have always dreamed of having a harp. But they are so expensive. 🥴
But I love them so much! 🥰
I have been looking for good harp instructions for a while. I gave up and started praying instead. I believe with your videos, my prayers were answered. So clear, informative and impressively done! Thank you!!!!!!!
Ah that’s so amazing, Rosa!! I’m honored to be an answer to your prayers. From my side I’m always praying that I’ll be able to help people really well through the videos and courses I make, so that’s wonderful to hear. This is perfect timing actually, because we’ve just launched a free trial on my website. You can get a free harp course of your choice! When you’re done with this video series on TH-cam, you can choose your next song to learn on our website and get the course free, yay! 😄 Have fun and all the best with your learning! 💕
Just great advice, really. Love your gentle, always smiling and supportive way of explaining all we and our harps need. We'll never thank you enough! :)
Tuning sometimes is enough to get an applaus 🤣
I love your energy❤❤❤
Me to
thank you for this my mom and dad got me a 34 string harp a while back and I didn't touch it for a while until my mom showed me this. love this!
Hey Scout,
That's so wonderful! If you'd like you could also check out our website to get going on learning a few pieces. We have a beginners bundle which is a great way to get going!
If you're looking for some direction please feel free to email us at hello@learningtheharp.com.
Keen to see where your harp journey takes you!
xx
Nicole, LTH Team Member
I was surprised at how much the tiniest movements with the key changed the sound of the string; I also had a really hard time keeping track of which peg went to which string without quite some concentration. I suppose that might be a matter of practice and familiarity. (I can't help compare how much easier I find tuning a violin, haha - I miss fine tuners.)
Thanks so much. I was taking classes and stopped because l moved far from my teacher. I forgot all l learned and these classes have reminded me of what l learned. You are so explicit and the classes are super detailed. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤
I was attracted to an amazon ad for a beautiful harp, i have never played an instrument before. I found you after being curious what kinds of lessons are out there because the sound is just so beautiful and so is the instrument. Whether i continue to learn or not after this series, just want you to know i think you are fantastic!! Thank you so much for the inspiration.
I used to watch your videos for a while, but I just got my harp two days ago (double strung Brea from Stoney End)
I can actually say I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOU and your lessons are so thorough and easy to follow ❤ thank you for your hard work you put out here for us to learn along! ❤
I didn’t think I could feasibly play the harp, between the cost and learning from scratch. I don’t really have a musical background. But these videos are sooo helpful, clear and friendly! I am going to start saving for a harp in 2021. How can we best support your content? Keep up the good work 😊
Have you gotten a harp Nicole?
I just bought a 29 string student harp and am so thankful I’m running across all these videos!
Wow thank you so much - it’s been so helpful not only that a pleasure - your cheerful smile and simple explanation is amazing ☺️🙏
Thank you soo much for your beautiful and easy explanation… so happy that you are here ❤️🙏✨
My daughter just got a harp, and we're excited to tune it and get playing! 😄
This was very helpful, thank you very much! 👍👍
I don’t know if you’re doing this for the fun of the video or if you’re really this sweet. You seem very kind. I want to buy and learn the harp to play songs for the LORD Almighty 💕
my harp will be delivered on tuesday. i am very excited to hear my first sounds from it. thanks for your lessons. ;-)
i dont even have a harp but im kind of obsessed with your videos 😭😭 if i end up getting a harp and loving it i owe it all to you
Hehe, I will take at least part of the responsibility! But the rest is you and God 😁
@@LearningtheHarp
My 8 year old grandson decided he wanted to learn to play the harp, so I bought a little inexpensive harp. It's been sitting in our living room for several months now because it was so badly out of tune and I didn't know what notes they were meant to be. Thanks so much for this! It was easy to understand and easy to do.
Christy-Lyn, Thank you so much for these delightful videos. I am watching them all to see if the hunger for learning harp I am experiencing is feasible for me to feed at age 68. You are such a beautiful person! Actually I fell in love with you from "My Lord Delivered Daniel". I was so happy to find you here and for the opportunity to more fully appreciate your great talent, infectious enthusiasm and amazing teaching ability. I live in Washington State in the US but I have lived in Port Elizabeth, Port Shepstone and in Klerksdorp. You make me miss it a lot.... Blessings to you!
Great video I strongly support you the way you teach is fabulous
First, I repeat all the accolades below. Very fun and educational to watch/listen. Well done. Second, and not to argue, but the instructions w/ my new and first harp say to tune the C strings first (long to short), then the F's (long to short) and finally the white strings. Better, or just a different technique for a different brand of harp? The claim is that this balances the pressure on the sound bar. Dunno, just saying. Keep on teaching, gal! I really enjoy your enthusiasm and knowledge. Cheers.
Thanks for the compliments! 😃 Maybe that can help, but I’ve personally watched harp makers and technicians tune from bottom to top so it must also be ok 👍🏻
@@LearningtheHarp I figured you've been over this road before! Different strokes for different folks. Cheers.
I am saving up to get a harpsicle but I’m gonna start out with a flat lap harp to get the hang of it to see if I like it.
I can't believe I just tuned my harp for the first time 😃😃 Thank You!!
Amazing!!! 🤩🤩🥳🙌🏻
I like this a lot! I'm a 63 year old guitar player, mainly 1970's rock music, but with a real interest in folk, country and European traditional music. Being a Welshman (living in Wales) I tend to like a lot of Irish and Welsh stuff, I'm a bit reluctant to say celtic as I'm not sure that's correct. I have a real intent to learn the harp and I think just watching your first 3 lessons has really demystified the harp, which is great. Could I ask you about your harp, is it a 29 string (haven't counted them, I'm just guessing), what brand is it and where could I get one from? I'm off to watch part 4 ! Big thank you.
Mine is a 26 string Fullsicle from Harpsicle Harps. It’s good for learning on if you also buy the floor stand, but that does add to the price. I would recommend starting on a floor harp if you can afford it. Take a look at the Ravenna 26 or Ravenna 34 from Dusty Strings, if you can afford it that would be a great starter harp!
Thank you for learning #3.
Your so amazing! Thank you very much for the lesson and the time and effort that you put in this videos.❤
❤️❤️❤️ Of course! I’m glad to help.
This was super helpful!
You are a great teacher. Thank you ❤️
i was really curious (from a guitar player’s perspective) from the first couple videos of how you get sharp or flat notes, but apparently you tune the harp into the key you’re playing instead? whereas in guitar you can switch between keys by simply holding down different frets, flattening or sharpening notes instantly. this is super intriguing! it sounds comfortable to always be playing in key when you tune it specifically for a certain one. please do correct me if i’m wrong with my assumptions! i am very interested in this beautiful instrument and how it’s played
It depends on whether you have levers on your harp or not. If you have levers, you move the levers up or down to change into different keys. If you don’t have levers you have to retune the harp or just play only pieces in one key. The big classical harps have pedals to change the key with your feet.
@@LearningtheHarp ooh i see! thank you so much for the response, levers seem very versatile in this case, i’ll continue finishing up this video series!
I don't know if it is the same for Harps, but when you're tuning a Guitar you always tune up to the note, rather than tuning down to the note because of stability...
Thank you so much you angel to the world god blessed you more❤❤❤
Thank you! :)
Really well made. Other videos are so confusing. Cheers.
LOL. Could you possibly be any more adorable? “..oh no! It’s getting more sharp!..”😅
Hi! I find your videos very helpful !! I just have one question, when I'm tuning my strings a lot of them are starting to stick to the note I tune them to for a little but some keep sliding drastically down the second I take the tuning thing off. I think in another video you mentioned something about pushing the pegs into the harp? Could you explain that a little more? I just got my harp today so I know they're bound to get off the tune often but I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong with those strings that keep going down a lot. Also one of my strings sounds muted because it seems to be pushing against the lever when its turned down is there anyway to fix that issue that you know of ? Again your videos are amazing I love them!
Missed an episode? Links to each video in this series are in the description above :)
I wanna know where she got her harp cause ive been trying to find one thats not too big but i still know i can play
I’m new to the harp and I feel like sometimes when I tune a certain note and go back to an another note that I tuned before that it comes undone. I’m using the free version of the app you suggested maybe I should pay for the one you use or maybe it’s me I’m not sure.
I played concert harp over 50 yrs ago in highschool .Now bought a 19 string lap harp. One string "B4"gets out of tune within 5 seconds constantly. What can I do? I thought i read something about pressing on teh peg hard with palm of other hand when u tune that particular string and it will help. Its not working for me. Thoughts?
Thanks!
I appreciate your help so much!
Hi Chris. May I ask at what frequency do you tune your harp to? Mine is 432, as advised by the maker of my harp. What difference does it make if it is another frequency? Sorry to ask, I am quite new to music theories
@LearningtheHarp - I have a question. I had music lessons, with piano, as a child over 20 years ago. We never really used the letters A, B, C, ... but rather do, re, mi. Now I know that do is C. The thing is that the do (C) and sol (G) were always my reference key notes on the piano back then, so when starting to play the harp on my own recently, I habitually started tuning C (do) to the blue string.
Now I see you tune the C to the red string instead of the blue string, while for me it makes more sense - visually - to use the blue string for C. Probably also because the first string on my harp (a smaller, Celtic harp) is a blue one. I've been practicing playing a few songs already by way of getting to know my harp and where the strings are, and I fear that if I have to tune it all to start with the red string as C, I'm going to be totally lost again. What should I do? Do I really need to put C on red instead of blue?
Hi there! I can see your dilemma, it must be frustrating to think about retraining your brain! But I would strongly recommend you tune your harp back to the correct notes urgently, because the amount of tension your harp is designed to withstand is specifically designed for the strings to be tuned to the correct notes, and if you tune it differently by a fourth interval, it would be unplayable if you had tuned it down (the strings would be very loose), so you’ve probably tuned it up, which means that your harp now has an extra-high amount of tension on the soundboard, and it will cause damage to the wood of your harp and start to warp it quite quickly. It could even cause your soundboard to “explode”, where the wood breaks outwards. So even just for that reason it’s very important to tune back to the correct pitch! But also I think if you look ahead to many years of playing the harp, the amount of time you’ve spent so far is probably very small in the bigger picture, so I think it would be very worth retraining yourself to the correct notes so you’re more easily able to learn from teaching materials in the future. I’m sure you’ll adjust after a week or two, it probably won’t take as long as you think 😊👍🏻 Hope that helps!
@@LearningtheHarpthank you so much for your fast reply! I figured you would recommend that, but I wanted to make sure first! I didn't know about the tension of the strings causing problems over time. I guess I'll just have to make the adjustments then, better now than later when it's even more difficult to retrain the brain!
I've had this harp for over 20 years, I bought it back then simply because it's so beautiful and it has always been a center piece in our home. So I bought it as decor and never seriously attempted to try and play something on it - until recently. I got started on it thanks to my 6 year old daughter. Since the harp is such a center piece, it's always caught her eye and she's been wanting to play on it (even though it's just making simple sounds with the strings). Since I never played myself, I almost never tuned it (but when I did, it was with the C at the blue string). Recently, she's been wanting to play the Paw Patrol song on it (she's a fan of that show) and me trying to teach her, got my fingers itchy and so I started to play myself.
I've been working on playing a simple version of "Evergreen" by Two Steps From Hell (if you don't know their music, please check it out, it's amazing!) but after re-tuning all the strings I'll probably have to partially start over again haha! I've been watching your videos so far up to the one with the tuning instructions, will definitely watch the others too! Thank you again for your advice, it's very much appreciated!
@@LearningtheHarp Sorry to bother you again. I have retuned the harp to C as you recommended, meaning I had to tune the pitch down. I have the levers down for this, as I saw you do too in your video. Now I notice that the strings very quickly get out of tune again - after half an hour they are already somewhat incorrect again already (this didn't happen before I tuned everything down).
Is this normal in the beginning, and will the strings still settle so they don't go out of tune so fast? Or could this be the result of the harp being tuned incorrectly for a very long period (even though it was almost never played on until recently)? Also, all these years it was not used, the levers had been up and locked constantly. I recently read somewhere else that this is not good for the strings either. I must say, though, that on the soundboard I see no damage whatsoever (no cracks in the wood or anything of the kind that I can see).
My harp has 19 strings apparently. I tried to look up the same model again, and found it on Amazon (where I probably bought it many years ago) but slightly different and now with 22 strings (starting with a red one):
www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/UZMAN-Versand-Keltische-snaren-tonkleppen-Lyra-Lyre/dp/B075WY7151/
Would a 22-string harp be better than a 19 one? Now the songs I want to play I suddenly need to play at a lower pitch, which doesn't sound nearly as nice as before.
There is also a similar Celtic harp, slightly different in design and with 27 strings:
www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/Uzman-Keltische-Harfe-snaren-tonkleppen/dp/B01958P25K/
I don't know which would be better or what I should do. Please help?
Yes it will just take some time for the strings to settle, that’s normal when you retune to a different key. Since your strings are so old I’m surprised they didn’t break when you tuned them up, so there’s still a risk they will start breaking as old strings do 😊 A 27 string harp starting on C would allow you to play more songs, but I wouldn’t rush to buy another cheap harp, because if you enjoy playing you would be better off investing in a higher quality instrument rather than having multiple harps that are cheap - these tend to break, sometimes after a long time, sometimes after only a few months of playing. And a higher quality harp will have a much more satisfying sound! 😃
@@LearningtheHarpthank you once again for your advice! I think you're right and that it's better to go straight for a better quality harp that I can use for much longer. It'll come out cheaper in the end instead of buying cheaper harps that won't last very long. In my search, I found the Salvi Juni 27, which is of course much more expensive than the one on Amazon, but - I hope - of much better quality too. I could go for a 34 strings right away, but those are even bigger and I am also considering transporting issues, as I want to be able to take the harp with me to places. So this seems a good compromise as this one has more strings than my current one, and is yet compact and transportable. And if I ever get to the point, somewhere in the distant future, that I really do feel the need to go to a harp with 34 or more strings, then I can still consider it!
The good news for now is that playing the same songs as before on my retuned harp doesn't seem to be as difficult as I feared it would be, in regards to where the blue and red strings are in relation to the notes. So retraining my brain should not be too much of an issue! Thank you again for all your great advice, I will soon continue to watch the rest of your videos!
Blessings
Im a first time learning an instrument and reading music i started oct 2018
Im self taught by you and tiffany
Thank you ladies. 😍😍😘😘
My harp i bought brand new 35 strings full levers from Pakistan i really like it but my last upper strings dont tune well they sound off😞 . i know how to tune but those strings r like tight so i dont want to tighten ant more even though the tuner reads flat😬
Any suggestions
Thanks again for all your help💝💝💝
What does it mean your tuning your harp to the Key of C? I have no musical experience. But I would like to learn the harp as my first instrument.
I give a full explanation in the video titled “Should I tune my harp in C or E flat?” 😊
Hi! Very helpful videos. I am trying to tune my strings however my screws keep loosening as I tune. Why is this happening?
Perhaps the tuning pin has started coming out a bit, so it’s slipping. Try pushing it further into the harp as you turn, that could help to secure it in place.
Do you have to tune your harp for every piece that is in a different key?
No, if you have levers or pedals you use those to change the key.
It has been 20 years since i look st my harp. Im so confused. There is a tuning app! This time i Will lern faster im sjure! Beginning with you
I have a question !!
There is no sharps or flats in harp like piano Black Keys ??
You play in different keys by changing the levers or pedals 😃
Do i have to open the levers to tune my harp? And also, do i need to have them open as i play as well?
I'd really appreciate an answer
It is better to tune your harp with the levers unengaged (“open”) because it is more accurate and the strings will last longer. Having the levers engaged during playing depends on what key the piece is in, and what key you tuned your harp in. For more info about that, you can watch my video “should I tune my harp in C or E flat?”.
@@LearningtheHarp Thank you very much!! Btw- awesome video :)
My harp strings r quite weird they r not colour coded
Hey Luke! Hmmm, that's interesting!🤔 It could be the make. If you're wanting to find out which string is which, you could either ask your harp maker, or if that doesn't work, tell us how many strings there are and we can guess what the normal range is based on the size😁. xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
Does it matter if the levers are up or down for tuning and playing? I got my harp and the levers were all up, but yours look to be down?
Hey! It's generally better to tune with the levers down- otherwise all the strain of the string tightening is on the tiny piece of string between the tuning peg and the lever. That can make it more likely that your string will break, and it also means that when you disengage the lever, it's not actually in tune.😊 xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
Question! Should all of the levers at the top be down when tuning? I am using my friend's harp and it's tuned correctly when the levers are flipped up, but when flipped down all of the notes are much lower.
Yes the levers should be down when tuning. It sounds like your friend’s harp is probably tuned in E flat major instead of C major. You can watch my video “how to tune your harp in Eb major” and it’ll help you understand what to do 😊👍🏻
@@LearningtheHarp Okay, thanks! I'll take a peek at that video😊
Should all of the levers be in the downward position when doing this? At least I think that’s what it looks like…? Thank you!
Yes 😃
@@LearningtheHarp Thank you!
I e just bought my son a 22 string harp. He is a guitar player and wants to learn the harp for his music. What is the best way to tune it to start? Thanks.
He needs to learn which string is which, and then tune the strings like I demonstrated in this video 😊👍🏻 Here’s a video where you can learn which note is which:
th-cam.com/video/VW0H8b2OHSM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for a quick and helpful response. It’s his Christmas present so we will see how we go.
Oh my goodness, my first instructor taught me to have my levers pulled up on all my A, B and E strings to be in the key of C, did I misunderstand or was I tuning in a different key?
That’s totally fine! I also tune that way usually (in the key of E flat) because it means I can play in flat keys and sharp keys. I have a video explaining why you might choose to tune in C or E flat, called “should I tune my harp in C or E flat?”. That should explain what you’re wondering 😊👍🏻
I just got a harp, I’m not sure if I am doing something wrong but whenever I tune a string the peg becomes very loose and doesn’t stay where it is tuned and makes the string become very loose. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi there, sorry I missed this comment! Did you manage to figure it out? It might help to push the tuning peg further into the wood as you turn it - perhaps it’s come out and bit and is loose? But it’s surprising that’s happening with every string. I would phone or email the people you bought your harp from and see what they say 👍🏻
Do you suggest keeping the harp stored in a case or just on then stand?
I suggest keeping it out and ready, so you can see it and be tempted to play! 😃
Hello, I have a travel harp. I bought used but from a music store. It did not come with a book on how to play it or a tuning tool which you mentioned in your video.
I, very much, enjoy listening to you and watching your videos. I would like to follow your step by step “beginners learning to play the harp” series. But, of course, I need a tuning tool.
My harp was made by an Italian harp making company. As I live in the US I would prefer to purchase one here. Do you recommend anything specific for my harp. I believe it has 22 strings but one is missing. I just learned today as I was watching your video that the missing string is named F. It is very near the top of my harp. Thank you for your help.
Hi Valerie! I would suggest you phone the nearest harp shop, and ask them for advice on buying a tuning key and replacement string. They will be able to post them to you. Perhaps you could send them an email with a photo of your harp, and a closeup of the head of the tuning pins so they can see which type of tuning key you would need. Another option is to contact your harp maker and request a tuning key, and ask for advice about the string. You really shouldn’t be given a harp without a tuning key, that’s very strange.
@@LearningtheHarp thank you so much for your answer. I was thinking of doing just that.
I have a question. How tight should the strings be? When I tune my strings, there's two points where it would hit the same note. Btw new to this 😅
Oh dear, you better figure out the right octave or it could really damage the soundboard of your harp! This isn’t something I can answer in a TH-cam comment. Could you phone the maker of your harp? This is a very important question.
Can you please help me? I tune my new harp and within two min it goes flat. Is this normal for brand new harp?
Yes that’s normal, it should settle in time 😊
Wa5 are you using for tuning ?
so when my c is a c flat i need to tune it to c? and hwen its a sharp i need to tune it into a?
Yes, if you are tuning in the key of C 👍🏻😊
Iv tuned as shown - then when I go back to check it’s changed ?
That’s very normal with a new harp - it takes up to two weeks for the strings to settle 😅 Just keep tuning as often as your can bear to, and it will settle quicker the more you tune! 😅
I’m replacing my top some of my top strings and they won’t stay tuned for even 5 minutes is this normal?
Yes! They’re just stretching and settling. Keep tuning as often as you can, and they will settle sooner.
I see your levers are down, do they just stay down once you are done tuning?
In this video I tuned in the key of C, which is the most common key for beginner harp music. So yes, you can keep your levers down for most songs after this. But when you play in a different key, you will need to change your levers 😊
Why do we tune the harp to the exact string note rather than lifting up the levers?? Will we learn it eventually through your video..? Please lemme know. Thanks
It’s more accurate, and better for the strings 😊 The levers push down on the strings so when you tune with the levers engaged, the strings get scraped and could wear down more quickly and break sooner than they would have. Also when you tune the string and the lever is engaged, the lever holds onto the string and the change isn’t distributed through the whole string, so the tuning isn’t accurate. So it’s just a good habit to get into, and healthier for your harp.
Is it possible to tune this lever harp one semitone below? I have a baroque transverse wooden flute tuned in A=415Hz (A flat). Its basic scale is in D major, but sounds D flat major (A=415Hz). I would like to learn to play this lever harp for playing with my baroque flute.
Yes you can do that! Sounds like a fun combination of instruments 👌🏻
How to purchase Harp? Brand & price range?
Hey Judy - if you're still looking, and haven't checked out Christy-Lyn's video on what you need to consider when choosing a harp to buy: th-cam.com/video/TkeSVPv3xlg/w-d-xo.html
Then I'd suggest asking the harp community from there if you're looking for more answers. We have a Facebook group called "Learning the Harp Together" and there are lots of harp players who've played on many different harps 🤗
xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
Just ordered a harp and Im not sure if its going to come with a tuner? I ordered an entry level gear4music 19string. What tuner size do I need? I searched lije evrywhere for this info and no joy:(Thanks!
How do you tune to c? I am having trouble with that.
Use a tuning app like PanoTuner, put all your levers down, and tune each string until it’s in tune on the app, with red strings tuned to the note C, black/blue strings tuned to the note F, and everything in between being C D E F G A B C. I also have a video called “How to tune your harp into C”. Hope that helps!
Hi, please advice which harp should I buy for beginners? thanks
Hi! 😃 That depends on a lot of things. Have you watched my video “Buying a harp: everything you need to know”?
Does it have to be all major keys?
When you tune in a major key for example C major, you are automatically also in the relative minor key, in this case A minor. You just start the scale at A instead of C.
I just got my harp today! Yay! What’s the best way to tune the highest strings? I tried the tuner app, a korg tuner, and a snark tuner. All had a lot of trouble picking up these strings. Am I just not plucking them hard enough? I’m afraid of breaking a string.
Don’t be afraid of breaking a string! It’s impossible to do that from plucking too hard. You could also pluck those strings with your nail when tuning to give a clearer sound 😊
Oh and congrats on your harp arriving, what an exciting time!!!! 🤩🤩
Hello should all the levers be up or down when tuning?
Down - when the note sounds lower.
where are you from? I can play the piano and the drums!!! :)
Hi! Christy-Lyn is from South Africa, which is probably the accent you're hearing come through 😋
Those are great instruments 🎵
Xx Nicole, LTH Team Member
My first string is E and my tuner shows it as 2nd octave so I have been tuning it to that. Is this wrong and should I be tuning it down to 1st octave?
That’s probably right. It’s usually not far off when you get the harp, so if your harp came like that, keep tuning it that way. As long as the correct string colours are tuned to the correct notes 👍🏻
@@LearningtheHarp Thank you so much for your help, Christy-Lyn. I was a bit worried!
I should have said it's a second hand harp 1970 s. The metal strings have 7 or 8 wraps! I was afraid to touch them in case of breakage. Some of the nylon ones are strangely strung too, with the wraps a bit far in so that the string is at an angle on the tuning pin instead of straight up. Is it ok to leave them like this? Thanks so much for your help Christy-Lyn 😃
What is happening when you tune your harp with the app and then you go back through to play them again and they are still off?
Maybe your harp is adjusting, and the strings are going out of tune again by the time you finish tuning. If your harp is brand new, or new to your house, or hasn’t been tuned for a long time, or has new strings, that’s normal in the beginning. Keep tuning often and it will settle down 😊
sooo amazing! i dont have a harbc we cant afford one but im still trying to learn :)
its also my first instrument
Amazingggg
I played the violin 0:18
I want to learn but I won't have that instrument 😓
I play the piano
You are way of talk is like music too.
i was on G6 thinking i was on A6 and i totally just broke my a string rip 😑
i also got super frustrated bc the apps kept picking up on background noise and it made it impossible it took me more than an hour and a broken string :( time to get an actual mechanical tuner
Oh no!! 😭😭 Sorry about your broken string!! Very sad when that happens. It can happen very easily and is something to watch out for. If the note doesn’t seem to be changing on the tuner and you are turning the tuning pin of your harp, check that you’re on the right string. With regards to the tuning app, are you using PanoTuner? It usually works very well, so perhaps you are tuning in a very noisy place? When there’s background noise I have found it helpful to rest my phone against the wood of my harp which allows the tuning app to get a stronger sound by picking up the vibrations too.
And I hate tuning my guitar. Wow lol
Hehe 😬 Tuning your guitar will soon feel super chilled and easy! 😅
Frustrated, I have a lyre, admittedly a cheap one, As soon as I tune the last string, all the others are out of tune. I bought a harp as well, but wanted to get the lyre down first.
Aw sorry you’re frustrated! I don’t know anything about lyres, but it is very normal with a new harp (or one that has just been transported) for it to take some time to settle the tuning. If it’s very new the strings could be settling, and moving it into a room of a different temperature can also mean it needs to settle. I’m no lyre expert, but it’s possible that’s pretty normal. You just need to keep tuning often, try not to get frustrated, and it should settle in a few days or maximum a couple of weeks 😬 Hope that helps ❤️
Thank you, I will wait it out.
that looks super painful
Hehe, it is a bit! But you get used to it, and you get quicker at tuning the more you do it. Now it takes me less than 5 mins and it’s quite satisfying 😄
Is it normal when you tune your new harp for the first time to hear kind of a popping noise? None of the strings are broken.
I’m not sure! I would ask the harp maker or the harp shop where you bought it from 😊 Sorry I couldn’t help more!
Thanks!