There is a lot of privilege being able to play the harp. I bought a little mini Pakistan 12 string harp and it helped excite me too. I then went to Atlanta harp center after planning to purchase a dusty strings harp without levers and they stressed I would need levers. They eventually talked me into getting a used Lyon and Healy Ogden and helped me do payments / rent to own. I felt like I was swindled at first because it was completely out of my original budget but I am SO thankful and understand why it was so important to spend the money up front rather than get something and upgrade later. I switch my levers all the time and the sound board on the Ogden sounds so beautiful. Even when I visit the store now and look at all the other Harps I'm still proud of my harp and it inspires me to practice every day. For new harp players I would 100% recommend renting a harp or doing payments and you need to budget in lessons. If you don't have a local teacher (I didn't) I had to do Skype lessons and I'm so thankful. It keeps me progressing and holds me accountable.
thank you so much for this!! i'm actually in the atlanta area and i think i would be in the identical situation to yours. it's nice to have that sort of feedback/inspiration. i'd like to see about a budget investment, at least initially, but sometimes the extra money is crucial in the application of the instrument. (paying for things that would be a dreadful pain otherwise, and might hamper your playing.) how is it seeing you now, years later?
Thanks for this comment. I'm completely new to music and can't read it at all lol but I played the mini Lyre harp with just finger style for at least 100 hours and it's been super fun. All outdoors! So I need to hold myself accountable and get a tutor and really learn how to read music since I never took it in school and a Skype teacher sounds like such a good next step I didn't even think of.
This is my perspective as a harpist who does not live in a big city. When I got my first harp, it was a $300 heather harp online from an online store. I can't remember the name of the store, but this was well over five years ago. To this day, it still holds its tune well, and there are no cracks or problems with the levers. Renting harps can be hard to do when you don't live in a city. The nearest city that would have harp rental available is around five hours away. And, while it is possible to do online, there is always the worry of damage while it is transported not to mention the hassle of having to ship it back once you're done with it. For me, the $300 heather may not be the top tier harp or a harpsicle, but it was perfect for me, as a beginner, to get a feel for if I even had the ability to take to the harp in the first place before upgrading and it was a perfect, small size for limited space. And, honestly, as a beginner, a person may not even WANT the top tier harp until they have an idea of if they'll take to it or not. Now, I have a L&H folk harp, but I still keep my heather harp. ☺
where did you buy the heather harp? i'm looking to start and feel the same way as you, where a budget harp might be still fantastic even if you move on.
This is exactly what I did. I purchased that exact harp from a friend of a friend to see if I wanted to take up the harp. I absolutely fell in love and am having a custom harp built which will be ready soon. I think that it's smart if you're starting out. It's easy to then save and invest in something more quality if you decide to become a serious student.
Audrey Here! I'm really impressed by everyone's different journeys! I will say that since making this video I have retired the Pakistani and am now the proud owner of a 20 year old Dusty Strings FH36. I will say that there is a profound difference in the voice of the instrument and I will admit that it actually took some getting used to and now I much prefer of course the Dusty Strings. While I think my next harp will probably be something along the lines of a Harpsicle for a smaller harp, and probably won't get another Pakistani, I still don't regret my decision. It was affordable for me at the time with the very small budget I had and it allowed me to get started with the basics of harp playing so that I knew what direction I wanted to go in with my journey.
Thank you for this follow up! I just bought a Roosebeck for my wife and thought i had made a mistake. Your comment is exactly what i was thinking and hope plays out for her!
I bought a 22 string Heather Harp on line from Roosebeck, a company that has all sizes of harps. The harp came safely in two days, and is so sturdy that it fell off a table once and never even went out of tune. Although after 5 months I purchased a 34 string Crescendo Harp from Dusty Strings in Seattle, Wa., I still have my Heather and play it every day. It is so portable and pleasant to listen to that I perform in restaurants with it, and just wherever I am I bring my music. It has never had a string break or produced a buzzing sound or had any warping on the soundboard. I love it and have two friends that purchased one as well. There are imitation rosewood harps out there that are just terrible, and my friend got one of those first, which looked good but was totally untunable! It was pretty for about a week before it started warping and cracking! It wasn't a Roosebeck Harp.
I have a similar harp to Audrey's - with exactly the same problems. Most of the levers on mine do work but not all. I have the same cracking on the soundboard so I know my little harp isn't going to last too much longer. I can't complain though because I bought it about 12 years ago secondhand for £80 ($99 USD) off eBay. It belonged to a retired teacher who had taken up another hobby and didn't have time for it. Even with the soundboard cracking it keeps good tune and does sound sweet. I hadn't played it for several years (piano and Grade 7 exam coming up sometime in the future - should have been June but with this horrible virus, everything is on hold) so decided to start learning the harp again. I have my heart set on a Dusty Strings Ravenna 34 which I have tried and fell in love with. Unfortunately, I can't afford one right now. Even renting one here in the UK is expensive so for now, I'm stuck with the little Pakistani harp.
Thank you for this comment, I am currently in decision paralysis over which harp will be my first and I keep coming back to a 29 roosebeck but have just been so unsure. This may have helped me make my choice, and a better educated one too!
I started with a small harp made in India, My harp teacher was so graceful and tolerated it, she let me play her Salvi Anna when I decided I wanted to continue with a better harp and eventually I purchased the Lyon & Healey Prelude. I did sell my first Harp on a car boot sale, I played it so people could hear what it sounded like. It created a lot of interest and I got more for it than it cost and the money went to a charity 'Lincs with India'.
I still have my Pakistani Heather Harp! I stripped off those levers though. I put Markwood strings on it (they are light but sweet, low tension which might help Audrey’s Harp before it gives out) and I put Rees levers on C D F and G. I played it daily (brought it to work, left it carefully in the car, and went out on lunch breaks to play it. I did that for a year. Now I have a secondhand harpsicle for my lunch-Harp. But the Pakistani Heather is still in great shape and I play it sometimes for variety!
Aaaaw it had such a sweet sound, I feel sad that it's getting retired. I hope it doesn't get thrown away and can stay in a corner like a decoration and watch Audrey grow as a harpist 💕
@@jondoes8222 I have bought exactly this harp but didn't play on it much, I had opportunity to practice on pedal harp which I didn't own and I was not trained on lever harp. I bought mine for around 650 EUR (700 EUR with shipping) and I don't think it's cheap, unfortunately the quality is what matters most and I didn't know about the problems. I wonder how it could be improved? I would not mind having to invest in it if it was worth it but don't know any place where it could be fixed and I'm sorry to have it in the corner just as a decoration 😟 I don't use the levers, I just tune and many strings already broke and I don't know where to get replacement strings? Didn't see set of strings of this model for sale (there were few included with harp for replacement, however if I break any now, I won't have them which stresses me out and I feel limited when playing)
@@jondoes8222 this is a harp I bought quite long time ago. www.gear4music.sk/sk/Drevene-a-plechove-dychove-slaikove/36-String-Irish-Harp-with-Levers-by-Gear4music-Ex-Demo/10WW the soundboard is alright, the tune is quite nice too but the levers don't move as they should and I'm not so patient, so I just don't use them... Though I hope someone will improve quality of these harps, esp. levers. They have beautiful design, but that's not what is most important. Anyway, still glad I have it but I'm thinking about some fixing and also might try lap harp, it's amazing to be able to bring them everywhere 😊 and harpsicle is of good quality with working levers
My first harp was a Paraguayan harp built by a US builder (Bud Trout age 84 at the time) from plans created by John Kovac. It doesn't have levers and there is no danger of it imploding because the strings come down from the center of the neck and they actually hold the harp together. You can build a harp like this for about $250 including the hardware. The Paraguayan harps have a lovely sound and can easily fill a room with music all by themselves. My harp cost $750 including the labor, and Bud Trout hand carved the spiral pillar. It has 29 strings and no sharping levers but you can use a sharping ring to raise the pitch of a string while playing. (I still haven't learned that) I currently have a Thormahlen Serenade with full levers. I still have my Paraguayan and i love it.
I appreciate the thoughts of the video, but these Pakistani harps still run $350 to $500 on Amazon and Ebay. If one were to purchase an electric guitar at that price it would be pristine. Paying that kind of money for an instrument that's going to be unplayable within a year would seem to me a poor investment. I have personally purchased two different brands of these harps; both went back. The levers were so stiff they were unusable. As the video states they don't sharpen the strings properly; it's literally easier to use the tuning tool to sharpen strings rather than the levers (might as well buy a no-lever harp). The strings are poor quality and don't have the tension of a good-quality harp (probably to ease the strain on the wood). Joints aren't finished, stain isn't even, etc etc. Some will say, "A $350 harp is cheap, you can't expect much." As a luthier, my opinion is different: "No matter what one charges for an instrument it should be made as if the builder was going to own it. Quality comes first." I've built hand-made folks guitars for as little as $150 that were designed to last a lifetime and have wonderful sound. I've also built high-quality, higher-priced instruments... with that same dedication to quality. As my father said, "A poor man can't afford cheap shoes". So I'll have to disagree with the "buy a cheap instrument for a beginner" philosophy. Buy a quality instrument, even if you need to save up a little longer to purchase it, and one has better chance of becoming a quality player... and not having to shell out another $350 to $500 a year from now. EDIT: Some time later I purchased a Roosebeck 22-string Heather harp at a bit over $500, because I had read of the company's reputation for decent instruments. The difference was night and day. The strings were quality and levers easy to use. Examining the harp I would expect it to last for many years. It is the same size and "class" of the cheaper harps, but a world of difference in quality.
I agree totally. To replace a "cheap harp" as beginner, you could as well just rent one for several months. I guess the lady in the video wasn't so sure if she will like the harp eventually, so she went for a cheap harp - that's probably for a lot of people the case, they don't know if they will stick with it. Then just rent it is probably the best option :) But regardless, prices of harps shock me a lot. I want to get into playing one, but it's such a luxurious instrument.
@@Es3iya Since I wrote the above comment I took one more chance and purchased a "Roosebeck" harp. It cost about $100 more than the "cheap" harps and is still built in Pakistan. But WHAT a difference! The Roosebeck was worth every penny extra paid for it. It uses a full set of Chelby sharpening levers (in my mind there just is no option to Chelby. They're every bit as good as advertised). The strings were DuPont Nylon instead of whatever fishing line the other was made of. The finish was pristine and the sound beautiful. This is what a "low cost" harp should be like. For the record no, I have no affiliation with Roosebeck. It's just a quality harp that puts the others to shame. People have different musical goals. A Celtic lap harp and a concert-quality floor harp are two similar but completely different instruments, just as a 6-hole Celtic flute is a different instrument from a 17-key concert flute. (Quality Celtic Flute around $40. Quality concert flute around $2,500+.) The same holds true with harps. It's easy to hit the $700, $1,000 and $2,500 range pretty fast. But I think for a beginning harpist a 22-string fully-keyed Roosebeck may be the answer if they're wanting to play folk music harp. Harps are quite a bit more expensive than guitars (for what reason I cannot ascertain). But it is possible to own a good personal lap harp and get great enjoyment out of it. My Roosebeck proved it is possible to build and sell a good-quality lap harp for under $500. That said, I am fully confident I could build a harp myself for around $100 to $150 in parts and have a fine instrument (more if I put a full set of Chelby levers on it). There are instructions on the Internet. So there are options for the beginning player.
@@whatabouttheearth I would respectfully disagree. : ) Of course, it depends on what you mean by "that good". People have different expectations from a guitar. For $200 I can pick a very-playable guitar off a store shelf. For $350 I can pick a fancier one... but it won't necessarily play any better. The two best guitars I own cost me $140 and $180 respectively, and I'll put them both up against higher-dollar guitars. If one visits the Stratocaster forum site there are articles from people who love their $129 Squier Strat Bullets. I modified a Bullet from "surprisingly good" to awesome and stayed under $200 total. If someone walks into a guitar store with $200, they can easily walk out with a "good" guitar. Is it the best guitar on the market? No. But it will be pristine workmanship, have good sound and be quite playable. They'll even be able to take their choice of several models for that price range, models from the biggest companies: Fender, Epiphone and others. Comparatively, I've not found a less-than $450 harp (edit: save for the Roosebeck noted above) that was playable and would still be functional 5 to 10 years from now. That's why I believe the harp industry needs to step up its game and produce quality harps at a lower cost. Or perhaps the public should stop buying junk harps and send a strong message that way.
my first harp was a heather . i researched it and knew what it was when I bought it used for $200. But I was 66 years old and wasn't sure I could even play the harp, even though I have a strong music background. ( I am a retired music/piano teacher). The levers weren't perfect, and I adjusted them to the best they could be. But I dont regret buying the harp either. it was a way to see if the harp was for me. After about 3 months Harptacular came to town and I went and got an Ogden and since I have also gotten a small Blevins. I still have the Heather. It stays in tune forever, and every once in a while I play it a little. But it was a way to see if I could even do it. I LOVE the harp!!!! Im so glad I tried that little heather as it was the door way to playing the harp.
I relate to this so much. I bought a cheap Craigslist pakastani harp and it has like Audrey, let me learn the basics and feel confident that I want to invest in a better harp!
I have two Roosebeck harps: a 12-string (I named her "Lady Jane") to learn how simply finger the strings and play scales and learn technique and play a few melodies and I found that not only could I play melodies, but, more than a few songs with the left hand as well...compromising, due to it only being 12 strings, but, actually playing some songs quite fully. I worked my way up to a 19-string Pixie Harp...and I became enchanted! I bought that harp to learn how to expand and play and make use of the clarsaich (Celtic Harp). This was over a year ago and he's still in great condition and he holds his tune (I named him King Óengus) very well. The levers are pretty decently placed and I never had to replace them as she did. Maybe I was lucky to get a couple of good instruments from Roosebeck -- student grade of course, but, good sounding and playing and staying in tune. I'm still learning and practicing the basics and intermediate levels and working my way further. When I expand again, I may think about Roosebeck again for a 22 or 29-string harp. Maybe then afterward, I'll think about better performance-quality instruments (because harp is in me, these days, and as an adult learner, I'm feeling like a kid again) when I'm ready to seriously begin performing for performance sake.
Audrey - I just love your “never say die” attitude! After seeing you (& your current aptitude) on Laura Bunch’s harp Show and tell video, this video was sooo fun to see! Good on you!! 🙌🎉
I was also looking at cheaper harps at first but having had a bad experience with a cheap violin I was hesitant. Was then going to buy a harpsicle as they are so convenient for travel etc. Finally came across a second hand salvi Juno 27.
A friend of mine bought one off ebay - and managed to get it for only £50. When she collected it, the levers were dreadful, so we took them off, and she used it as a diatonic harp. Half the strings (the bass strings) were actually wrong, so we removed and replaced those - luckily we had appropriate ones in the house. Now she had a perfectly playable harp with a nice, bright tone. It was excellent for playing in pubs as the sound cut through general noise well. At a later date, we fitted it with Pilgrim levers - being a small but robust lever. Several years later, she sold it and bought a 34 string harp - so it really got her on the way. I have met someone who had to replace ALL the strings - but it still gave them a playable instrument for a lot less than most small harps.
I got my Pakistani Heather harp in 1998 for $400. The body is still in perfect shape. I guess I got lucky, I haven’t had any problems with the soundboard. I’m suspicious that the quality has gone down over the years though because they are still selling for the same price 20 years later. The levers have never worked and the ones on the upper end will not get the right note no matter how high you move them. I would have to cut into the metal of the lever base to get the lever high enough. I thought about replacing the levers and strings once I was ready to play outside of the key of C, but I decided to spend the money to get a Fullsicle harp instead and I don’t regret it. The Fullsicle will be my harp for as long as it lasts. It’s easier to play than the Heather, but I guess that might be fixed by putting some decent strings on the Heather. I’ve made a lot more progress on the Fullsicle than the Heather. I’m more motivated to practice on the Fullsicle since the levers work and it’s easier to play. If I could only afford $400, I would buy the Heather harp again, but if I could swing the extra I would get a Harpsicle with the Harpsicle stand instead. The Harpsicle stand was a must for me since the Fullsicle doesn’t balance well on it’s own on the footstool I was using. Maybe I’ll do a video comparison since I have both.
How lucky was I. I did a 2 hour harp workshop and knew i had to have a harp ... NOW. I got home ... saw the Pakistani harps on ebay, but thought otherwise. Got back on the next day and found a 32 stringed (Harp's Australia) harp for sale on Gumtree ... only an hour or so's drive away ... for a very reasonable price. The owner was very sad to say goodbye to the harp which had been given to her by her husband the xmas before. I am now the owner of this beautiful harp ... I'm in love with my harp and get such pleasure playing simple but beautiful tunes. Haven't had lessons other than a little help from Christy-Lyn ...
I have been lucky to have the oportunity to rent an harp (34 strings Mia Salvi) that is actually a better choice if one can do it. I am looking forward to buy a 38 strings from Salvi as soon as I can afford it :) p.s. And thanks to Christy-Lyn that with her videos inspired me so much to push me starting this adventure.
i bought a cheap one too - pakistani parts, assembled in ireland, with camac levers :-) it actually sounds quite nice, it's in tune, levers work.. unfortunately the sounboard is getting those cracks :-( but i'm also glad i bought it and i hope it's going to play for many more years, because i can't afford a better one yet ;-)
@@stsoe2124 mine was the last piece there, but these are similar: muzikkon.com/strings/harps/muzikkon-harps/trinity-harps.html and lately i've heard many good reviews on mikel harps, they seem to be quite a good quality for a low price
I own 2 second had harps, one is an killerney which was restored and sounds great, is over 6 yrs old. The second an even older mexican harp which has old bad strings when i bought it and we spend 2 months to restring it and figure out what would work on this harp, due to humidity changes the sound boar d torn off the base but also that has been repaired at home, it still has a great sound. So if you have only a little budget your expectations should b accordingly. Still you can find a great surprise sometimes
Would you do a video on folks that play harp on left shoulder? I feel bad for people that do because they seem to be swept under the rug so to speak. I have been snubbed by some harpist about this and it discourages me as well as other left shoulder players. I am right handed and play treble with right and bass with left. I love your videos and you would be the one to do a video to let the folks know about left shoulder players and explain some things. This would help quite a bit for the few that play left shoulder. Thanks Ron
I bought one of these. It’s held up very well, I’ve had it for over a year and haven’t noticed any cracking or the like. It sounds like a bell. I did have to remove all of the levers as half of them were too stiff to flip and some were even broken, so for now I only play in C...but when I tune it in D it sounds even better. I love it very much, but I do think of it as my starter harp. I will be moving on to a more expensive instrument.
I think at the end of the day, having something to play, or to paint, or do anything else you may wish to do is still better than having nothing and wondering what may happen.
This is the same harp that I have. I bought mine from a lady who was selling it on eBay about 15 years ago for £80. Unfortunately, the soundboard also swelled up and is cracked to the point I no longer play it as if I tuned it, it would likely go bang. The frame also has two large cracks in different areas. I am shortly going to be buying a 36 string harp. It is also Pakistani made but the company it's coming from checks every instrument thoroughly and is the same company I bought my digital baby grand piano from 6 years ago which I've been very happy with. They have a very good reputation and will not risk selling an inferior instrument.
This video was quite encouraging. On a lark, I will be picking up a 20 year old 22-string lever harp tomorrow that I purchased on Marketplace (for only $60 - how could I go wrong!). I have no idea who the manufacturer was, or from where, but the little harp has only been a decoration for about 20 years, never played ... or tuned. 😬 My Husband and I are capable of any carpentry (luthier?) skills that may be required to the structure ... and also relocating the levers, should that be necessary. I am familiar enough with folk harps to know I need to take the tuning process very s-l-o-w-l-y so the harp, and strings, can adjust to being under tension. I've got time. I took harp lessons on a Troubadour in 1980 - only a few months before getting pregnant with my first daughter, and immediately becoming violently ill with 24/7 "morning sickness", and then we moved to a small town far away from any harp instruction. And that was the end of that. Even if the lovely little vintage harp only lasts a few months and then has catastrophic structural failure, for only $60, even with the possible purchase of a case (more than I am paying for the harp), plus a tuning key, and replacement & spare strings, I will finally have the opportunity to give playing a harp another go. If my decades-older fingers can still perform the moves, then a higher quality harp will be a resonable investment; but if my aging digits can't strum the strings, I have lost very little ... and my Grandkids will have a little harp to play around with. 🎶❤🤗
Great! Sounds like a fun project with little to lose, as you said. Might want to replace the strings too 👍🏻 If you enjoy playing it, you can get a better harp with confidence that you’ll enjoy it even more!
I am looking at muzikkon harps. From what I understand the parts are made in Pakistan but it is put together and checked for quality control in Ireland. They have collaborated with a harp teacher in their design and development. This makes them more affordable. Could you please try and review a Muzikkon harp and the Rowenna Rose harp as well?
Hi there! I’ve never tried one and I don’t know any students who bought them. Perhaps it would be good to post of the Learning the Harp Together Facebook group to see if anyone there has experience with them? ❤️
Some of the other harpists would have taken or mailed the “cheap” to a harp repair shop. Some harpists would have also got in contact with The American Harp Society, The World Harp Congress, another harp society for information about the harp repair shop nearest them.
That would be nice! But cheap harps can cost more to get fixed by a professional, than the value of the harp itself, so for that reason repair people usually refuse to fix a harp like this, since it’s not just the breaking that’s the problem, it’s the design of the harp and the materials it’s made from. I’d say it’s a better use of your money to save up and buy a better harp, rather than spending money on getting it fixed by a professional 😊
Hello! I have just purchased a Heather Harp and I am also noticing that the levers are... well, not great. They're crooked, stiff, and in the wrong spot. I would like to fix them, but I have a couple questions: 1: will the levers loosen up over time, or is this just how they are? could I oil them to loosen them up, or would this cause problems in ways I haven't foreseen? what if I removed them from the harp before trying this, and just incorporated it into the overall lever repair process? 2: is there information out there somewhere on how, exactly, to go about moving the levers? I don't have a lot of experience with carpentry or anything related and I would hate to accidentally destroy my harp. If I can't fix it, I can't fix it, but I'd like to know what my options are. Thanks! (Also: yes, I see you, experienced luthier in the comments. and technically you are correct. However! my country is on lockdown! and I am sad! and harps are sort of hard to come by right now, so I'm just going to give this a try and if it doesn't work it doesn't work. at least it'll tide me over until other types of harp are back in stock.)
Hi Elizabeth! Those are some very good questions. I can’t answer them myself, but I think some solid searching on Google will certainly help you with the second question. I’d just go for it and see what you can do to make it better! It’s worth a try 👌🏻
I still think it'd be better to invest just a few extra dollars for a harpsicle or just rent a harp while you're still learning, it's cheaper in the long-run because eventually this harp -will- break and youll have to buy another one or you'll have to invest more time and money in fixing it when errors arise.
I am considering buying a second hand harp so if you can please answer my question would be greatly appreciated! It is a 22 string harp and what I like is that it would be easily transportable however despite never touching a harp I really want to take it seriously and master it so should I start with a 22 string and then at the end of the year purchase a 34 plus string harp. Would it be easy to figure out the additional strings as I do not know how to read music or know the cords? Your swift response would help me make a decision!!! 🙏🏻🕊
Hello! Before buying I would just make sure to see it in person to ensure it is in good condition. If it's financially feasible I would suggest starting with the 34 string harp! Larger harps can actually be easier to learn on for beginners because they support their own weight, while smaller harps can sometimes be more wobbly and it takes effort to keep stable as you're playing. But there's also no harm in trying out the 22 string, and then transitioning to a larger harp later on when you're sure you want to stick with it! If you'd like some guidance as you get started, we have a program we're running in August called 'Harp Beginnings' where we teach you the basics of playing the harp. You'll learn 3 songs, learn how to play from chords, and you'll get personal feedback from me and get to meet other beginner players! 🤗 Here is more info: www.learningtheharp.com/harp-beginnings/
Sorry about that Marcelle! We haven’t set up this page on our new version of the website. The harps we recommended are the Fireside harp from Backyard Music, the Harpsicle from Harpsicle Harps, and the Ravenna 26 from Dusty Strings.
I just saw some videos on a 36 stringed harp sold by gear4music.com. A harpist was playing it and it sounded great. Its not the Megan one Its something new. I did notice the carvings on it though that looked like the Mideastern cheap ones. Could this be a better one than the cheap ones of the past? Its for sale around 800 dollars. I was thinking though of taxes or tarriffs from other countries etc which would make it out of range considering the cost for low budget people. Have you seen it yet?
Hello everyone! 🥰 I want to buy my first Harp and I am thinking of getting the New Lyon Healy Drake Lever Harp with Biocarbon 34 strings or the Una from Salvi with 38 Silkgut Copper strings... Wich one is the best? Do you recomend other Harps? I need some help to make a good investiment. I don't want to buy a Harp that lasts a year... Thank you 💗
@@LearningtheHarp Are the Silkgut Cooper Strings better than Biocarbon and durable and resistant to humidity since they are synthetic? Thank you so much for your support 🥰💗
Hi Cristina! I don’t have a lot of experience with those types of strings, so unfortunately I can’t help with that. I would suggest chatting to someone in sales at a harp shop or a harp maker. Even if you don’t end up buying from them, if you phone around I’m sure you’ll find someone who is knowledgeable with the comparison of those two types of strings 😊
I'm a Pakistani myself and I have been pondering about getting a harp myself, you can assume that I can't find an authentic one only the Pakistani kind though now I feel as though I'll be fine, as long as I have the drive and passion.
There is at least one harp maker in Pakistan who makes decent harps, I’ve heard. I would try contacting Harpsicle and ask for their advice - I remember them talking about a Pakistani harp maker who was making good harps.
There is at least one harp maker in Pakistan who makes decent harps, I’ve heard. I would try contacting Harpsicle and ask for their advice - I remember them talking about a Pakistani harp maker who was making good harps.
@@LearningtheHarp Ok, I'm new to this harp thing. I'm considering getting one. I'd like to know what is the cheapest harp I could get that is still good quality, and full size with 47 strings or whatever. Thanks!
If you want to invest in a good size to start, I suggest the 34 string Ballad harp from Music Makers (on my site www.learningtheharp.com/shop) or the Ravenna 34 from Dusty Strings. If those are outside your price range, the next thing to consider is the Ravenna 27 from Dusty Strings. If that is still too much for you, I would consider getting a Harpsicle or a Fireside harp while you save up… but in my opinion it’s worth starting with a floor harp if you can! It’s much easier to learn on a floor harp, and better for setting you for success with your technique.
A lot of people misunderstand the cost of ownership. You pay, lets say $400 for this pakistani harp and in a year its worthless so you are out $400. Buy a sharpsicle for $600 and you can probably sell it immediately on craigslist or $400, if you wait for the right buyer, more. So the real cost is $200. Meanwhile you have a better experience. Renting is similar when its not rent to own. It's just a total loss. Quite often you would be better off buying the $600 product, deciding you don't like it in 6 months and selling it. How much is 6 months of rent? Probably more than $200. You should factor in investment losses if you are really going for accuracy but in general people I think miss this and its important.
There is already a lot of privilege in being able to buy a sharpsicle for $600. Where I live, a used sharpsicle could easily cost twice that much, and you have to trust the buyer that it's only been used for 2 years when in fact it could be a lot older. And the living wage here is about one tenth of the American wages. So I totally understand people who get by with whatever they can afford.
@@barefacedquestions Privilege? I grew up poor and worked to be able to afford modest expenses of $1000 that I can resell for most of my money back. Your victim mentality is not doing you any favors. You are smart enough to find a way to afford a $600 harp. Spend your energy seeking that instead of wallowing in talk of privilege.
Someone who deals in these harps should complain and ask for better workmanship on these. They are pretty but i had one one time that sounded quite like a banjo...
I agree with you, but doesn't sound that great. By the way you get what you pay for. Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendations. My daughter can't wait to get her first harp.
There is a lot of privilege being able to play the harp. I bought a little mini Pakistan 12 string harp and it helped excite me too. I then went to Atlanta harp center after planning to purchase a dusty strings harp without levers and they stressed I would need levers. They eventually talked me into getting a used Lyon and Healy Ogden and helped me do payments / rent to own. I felt like I was swindled at first because it was completely out of my original budget but I am SO thankful and understand why it was so important to spend the money up front rather than get something and upgrade later. I switch my levers all the time and the sound board on the Ogden sounds so beautiful. Even when I visit the store now and look at all the other Harps I'm still proud of my harp and it inspires me to practice every day. For new harp players I would 100% recommend renting a harp or doing payments and you need to budget in lessons. If you don't have a local teacher (I didn't) I had to do Skype lessons and I'm so thankful. It keeps me progressing and holds me accountable.
thank you so much for this!! i'm actually in the atlanta area and i think i would be in the identical situation to yours. it's nice to have that sort of feedback/inspiration. i'd like to see about a budget investment, at least initially, but sometimes the extra money is crucial in the application of the instrument. (paying for things that would be a dreadful pain otherwise, and might hamper your playing.) how is it seeing you now, years later?
There's actually a lot of privilege in being able to rent a harp. In many places, renting or even buying a reliable store is just not an option
Thanks for this comment. I'm completely new to music and can't read it at all lol but I played the mini Lyre harp with just finger style for at least 100 hours and it's been super fun. All outdoors! So I need to hold myself accountable and get a tutor and really learn how to read music since I never took it in school and a Skype teacher sounds like such a good next step I didn't even think of.
This is my perspective as a harpist who does not live in a big city.
When I got my first harp, it was a $300 heather harp online from an online store. I can't remember the name of the store, but this was well over five years ago. To this day, it still holds its tune well, and there are no cracks or problems with the levers.
Renting harps can be hard to do when you don't live in a city. The nearest city that would have harp rental available is around five hours away. And, while it is possible to do online, there is always the worry of damage while it is transported not to mention the hassle of having to ship it back once you're done with it.
For me, the $300 heather may not be the top tier harp or a harpsicle, but it was perfect for me, as a beginner, to get a feel for if I even had the ability to take to the harp in the first place before upgrading and it was a perfect, small size for limited space. And, honestly, as a beginner, a person may not even WANT the top tier harp until they have an idea of if they'll take to it or not.
Now, I have a L&H folk harp, but I still keep my heather harp. ☺
where did you buy the heather harp? i'm looking to start and feel the same way as you, where a budget harp might be still fantastic even if you move on.
This is exactly what I did. I purchased that exact harp from a friend of a friend to see if I wanted to take up the harp. I absolutely fell in love and am having a custom harp built which will be ready soon. I think that it's smart if you're starting out. It's easy to then save and invest in something more quality if you decide to become a serious student.
Audrey Here! I'm really impressed by everyone's different journeys! I will say that since making this video I have retired the Pakistani and am now the proud owner of a 20 year old Dusty Strings FH36. I will say that there is a profound difference in the voice of the instrument and I will admit that it actually took some getting used to and now I much prefer of course the Dusty Strings. While I think my next harp will probably be something along the lines of a Harpsicle for a smaller harp, and probably won't get another Pakistani, I still don't regret my decision. It was affordable for me at the time with the very small budget I had and it allowed me to get started with the basics of harp playing so that I knew what direction I wanted to go in with my journey.
Thank you for this follow up! I just bought a Roosebeck for my wife and thought i had made a mistake. Your comment is exactly what i was thinking and hope plays out for her!
@@rhoff7272 I'm really glad that you were able to do so something so special for her!
I bought a 22 string Heather Harp on line from Roosebeck, a company that has all sizes of harps. The harp came safely in two days, and is so sturdy that it fell off a table once and never even went out of tune. Although after 5 months I purchased a 34 string Crescendo Harp from Dusty Strings in Seattle, Wa., I still have my Heather and play it every day. It is so portable and pleasant to listen to that I perform in restaurants with it, and just wherever I am I bring my music. It has never had a string break or produced a buzzing sound or had any warping on the soundboard. I love it and have two friends that purchased one as well.
There are imitation rosewood harps out there that are just terrible, and my friend got one of those first, which looked good but was totally untunable! It was pretty for about a week before it started warping and cracking! It wasn't a Roosebeck Harp.
I have a similar harp to Audrey's - with exactly the same problems. Most of the levers on mine do work but not all. I have the same cracking on the soundboard so I know my little harp isn't going to last too much longer. I can't complain though because I bought it about 12 years ago secondhand for £80 ($99 USD) off eBay. It belonged to a retired teacher who had taken up another hobby and didn't have time for it. Even with the soundboard cracking it keeps good tune and does sound sweet. I hadn't played it for several years (piano and Grade 7 exam coming up sometime in the future - should have been June but with this horrible virus, everything is on hold) so decided to start learning the harp again. I have my heart set on a Dusty Strings Ravenna 34 which I have tried and fell in love with. Unfortunately, I can't afford one right now. Even renting one here in the UK is expensive so for now, I'm stuck with the little Pakistani harp.
@Rad Chad is the website but you can use Amazon as a reseller. I still love my harp and play it every day. No string has broken yet...
@Rad Chad Good choice. You never know on Amazon. I just got lucky.
Thank you for this comment, I am currently in decision paralysis over which harp will be my first and I keep coming back to a 29 roosebeck but have just been so unsure. This may have helped me make my choice, and a better educated one too!
I started with a small harp made in India, My harp teacher was so graceful and tolerated it, she let me play her Salvi Anna when I decided I wanted to continue with a better harp and eventually I purchased the Lyon & Healey Prelude. I did sell my first Harp on a car boot sale, I played it so people could hear what it sounded like. It created a lot of interest and I got more for it than it cost and the money went to a charity 'Lincs with India'.
I still have my Pakistani Heather Harp! I stripped off those levers though. I put Markwood strings on it (they are light but sweet, low tension which might help Audrey’s Harp before it gives out) and I put Rees levers on C D F and G. I played it daily (brought it to work, left it carefully in the car, and went out on lunch breaks to play it. I did that for a year. Now I have a secondhand harpsicle for my lunch-Harp. But the Pakistani Heather is still in great shape and I play it sometimes for variety!
Aaaaw it had such a sweet sound, I feel sad that it's getting retired. I hope it doesn't get thrown away and can stay in a corner like a decoration and watch Audrey grow as a harpist 💕
Yes I’m sure it will! And maybe she’ll take it along when she goes to the Renaissance fair or a campfire now and then ☺️
Someone could take the sound board off and replace it with spruce..I bet the tone would be remarkable.
Sound board could be rebuilt of a quality wood like spruce or cedar...
@@jondoes8222 I have bought exactly this harp but didn't play on it much, I had opportunity to practice on pedal harp which I didn't own and I was not trained on lever harp. I bought mine for around 650 EUR (700 EUR with shipping) and I don't think it's cheap, unfortunately the quality is what matters most and I didn't know about the problems. I wonder how it could be improved? I would not mind having to invest in it if it was worth it but don't know any place where it could be fixed and I'm sorry to have it in the corner just as a decoration 😟 I don't use the levers, I just tune and many strings already broke and I don't know where to get replacement strings? Didn't see set of strings of this model for sale (there were few included with harp for replacement, however if I break any now, I won't have them which stresses me out and I feel limited when playing)
@@jondoes8222 this is a harp I bought quite long time ago. www.gear4music.sk/sk/Drevene-a-plechove-dychove-slaikove/36-String-Irish-Harp-with-Levers-by-Gear4music-Ex-Demo/10WW the soundboard is alright, the tune is quite nice too but the levers don't move as they should and I'm not so patient, so I just don't use them... Though I hope someone will improve quality of these harps, esp. levers. They have beautiful design, but that's not what is most important. Anyway, still glad I have it but I'm thinking about some fixing and also might try lap harp, it's amazing to be able to bring them everywhere 😊 and harpsicle is of good quality with working levers
My first harp was a Paraguayan harp built by a US builder (Bud Trout age 84 at the time) from plans created by John Kovac. It doesn't have levers and there is no danger of it imploding because the strings come down from the center of the neck and they actually hold the harp together. You can build a harp like this for about $250 including the hardware. The Paraguayan harps have a lovely sound and can easily fill a room with music all by themselves. My harp cost $750 including the labor, and Bud Trout hand carved the spiral pillar. It has 29 strings and no sharping levers but you can use a sharping ring to raise the pitch of a string while playing. (I still haven't learned that) I currently have a Thormahlen Serenade with full levers. I still have my Paraguayan and i love it.
I appreciate the thoughts of the video, but these Pakistani harps still run $350 to $500 on Amazon and Ebay. If one were to purchase an electric guitar at that price it would be pristine. Paying that kind of money for an instrument that's going to be unplayable within a year would seem to me a poor investment. I have personally purchased two different brands of these harps; both went back. The levers were so stiff they were unusable. As the video states they don't sharpen the strings properly; it's literally easier to use the tuning tool to sharpen strings rather than the levers (might as well buy a no-lever harp). The strings are poor quality and don't have the tension of a good-quality harp (probably to ease the strain on the wood). Joints aren't finished, stain isn't even, etc etc.
Some will say, "A $350 harp is cheap, you can't expect much." As a luthier, my opinion is different: "No matter what one charges for an instrument it should be made as if the builder was going to own it. Quality comes first." I've built hand-made folks guitars for as little as $150 that were designed to last a lifetime and have wonderful sound. I've also built high-quality, higher-priced instruments... with that same dedication to quality.
As my father said, "A poor man can't afford cheap shoes". So I'll have to disagree with the "buy a cheap instrument for a beginner" philosophy. Buy a quality instrument, even if you need to save up a little longer to purchase it, and one has better chance of becoming a quality player... and not having to shell out another $350 to $500 a year from now.
EDIT: Some time later I purchased a Roosebeck 22-string Heather harp at a bit over $500, because I had read of the company's reputation for decent instruments. The difference was night and day. The strings were quality and levers easy to use. Examining the harp I would expect it to last for many years. It is the same size and "class" of the cheaper harps, but a world of difference in quality.
I agree totally. To replace a "cheap harp" as beginner, you could as well just rent one for several months. I guess the lady in the video wasn't so sure if she will like the harp eventually, so she went for a cheap harp - that's probably for a lot of people the case, they don't know if they will stick with it. Then just rent it is probably the best option :)
But regardless, prices of harps shock me a lot. I want to get into playing one, but it's such a luxurious instrument.
@@Es3iya Since I wrote the above comment I took one more chance and purchased a "Roosebeck" harp. It cost about $100 more than the "cheap" harps and is still built in Pakistan. But WHAT a difference! The Roosebeck was worth every penny extra paid for it. It uses a full set of Chelby sharpening levers (in my mind there just is no option to Chelby. They're every bit as good as advertised). The strings were DuPont Nylon instead of whatever fishing line the other was made of. The finish was pristine and the sound beautiful. This is what a "low cost" harp should be like. For the record no, I have no affiliation with Roosebeck. It's just a quality harp that puts the others to shame.
People have different musical goals. A Celtic lap harp and a concert-quality floor harp are two similar but completely different instruments, just as a 6-hole Celtic flute is a different instrument from a 17-key concert flute. (Quality Celtic Flute around $40. Quality concert flute around $2,500+.) The same holds true with harps. It's easy to hit the $700, $1,000 and $2,500 range pretty fast. But I think for a beginning harpist a 22-string fully-keyed Roosebeck may be the answer if they're wanting to play folk music harp.
Harps are quite a bit more expensive than guitars (for what reason I cannot ascertain). But it is possible to own a good personal lap harp and get great enjoyment out of it. My Roosebeck proved it is possible to build and sell a good-quality lap harp for under $500. That said, I am fully confident I could build a harp myself for around $100 to $150 in parts and have a fine instrument (more if I put a full set of Chelby levers on it). There are instructions on the Internet. So there are options for the beginning player.
A $350 guitar isn't going to be that good.
@@whatabouttheearth I would respectfully disagree. : )
Of course, it depends on what you mean by "that good". People have different expectations from a guitar. For $200 I can pick a very-playable guitar off a store shelf. For $350 I can pick a fancier one... but it won't necessarily play any better. The two best guitars I own cost me $140 and $180 respectively, and I'll put them both up against higher-dollar guitars. If one visits the Stratocaster forum site there are articles from people who love their $129 Squier Strat Bullets. I modified a Bullet from "surprisingly good" to awesome and stayed under $200 total.
If someone walks into a guitar store with $200, they can easily walk out with a "good" guitar. Is it the best guitar on the market? No. But it will be pristine workmanship, have good sound and be quite playable. They'll even be able to take their choice of several models for that price range, models from the biggest companies: Fender, Epiphone and others.
Comparatively, I've not found a less-than $450 harp (edit: save for the Roosebeck noted above) that was playable and would still be functional 5 to 10 years from now. That's why I believe the harp industry needs to step up its game and produce quality harps at a lower cost. Or perhaps the public should stop buying junk harps and send a strong message that way.
as a guitar player, a $350-$500 guitar would definitely not be “pristine”. pristine guitars are normally $900+ if that
my first harp was a heather . i researched it and knew what it was when I bought it used for $200. But I was 66 years old and wasn't sure I could even play the harp, even though I have a strong music background. ( I am a retired music/piano teacher). The levers weren't perfect, and I adjusted them to the best they could be. But I dont regret buying the harp either. it was a way to see if the harp was for me. After about 3 months Harptacular came to town and I went and got an Ogden and since I have also gotten a small Blevins. I still have the Heather. It stays in tune forever, and every once in a while I play it a little. But it was a way to see if I could even do it. I LOVE the harp!!!! Im so glad I tried that little heather as it was the door way to playing the harp.
My heather sounded like a banjo...
I relate to this so much. I bought a cheap Craigslist pakastani harp and it has like Audrey, let me learn the basics and feel confident that I want to invest in a better harp!
I have two Roosebeck harps: a 12-string (I named her "Lady Jane") to learn how simply finger the strings and play scales and learn technique and play a few melodies and I found that not only could I play melodies, but, more than a few songs with the left hand as well...compromising, due to it only being 12 strings, but, actually playing some songs quite fully.
I worked my way up to a 19-string Pixie Harp...and I became enchanted! I bought that harp to learn how to expand and play and make use of the clarsaich (Celtic Harp). This was over a year ago and he's still in great condition and he holds his tune (I named him King Óengus) very well. The levers are pretty decently placed and I never had to replace them as she did.
Maybe I was lucky to get a couple of good instruments from Roosebeck -- student grade of course, but, good sounding and playing and staying in tune. I'm still learning and practicing the basics and intermediate levels and working my way further. When I expand again, I may think about Roosebeck again for a 22 or 29-string harp.
Maybe then afterward, I'll think about better performance-quality instruments (because harp is in me, these days, and as an adult learner, I'm feeling like a kid again) when I'm ready to seriously begin performing for performance sake.
The best instrument is the one you can get into your hands and play. 😊
Amen, a lot of wisdom.
Audrey - I just love your “never say die” attitude! After seeing you (& your current aptitude) on Laura Bunch’s harp Show and tell video, this video was sooo fun to see! Good on you!! 🙌🎉
I was also looking at cheaper harps at first but having had a bad experience with a cheap violin I was hesitant. Was then going to buy a harpsicle as they are so convenient for travel etc. Finally came across a second hand salvi Juno 27.
A friend of mine bought one off ebay - and managed to get it for only £50. When she collected it, the levers were dreadful, so we took them off, and she used it as a diatonic harp. Half the strings (the bass strings) were actually wrong, so we removed and replaced those - luckily we had appropriate ones in the house. Now she had a perfectly playable harp with a nice, bright tone. It was excellent for playing in pubs as the sound cut through general noise well. At a later date, we fitted it with Pilgrim levers - being a small but robust lever. Several years later, she sold it and bought a 34 string harp - so it really got her on the way. I have met someone who had to replace ALL the strings - but it still gave them a playable instrument for a lot less than most small harps.
I got my Pakistani Heather harp in 1998 for $400. The body is still in perfect shape. I guess I got lucky, I haven’t had any problems with the soundboard. I’m suspicious that the quality has gone down over the years though because they are still selling for the same price 20 years later. The levers have never worked and the ones on the upper end will not get the right note no matter how high you move them. I would have to cut into the metal of the lever base to get the lever high enough.
I thought about replacing the levers and strings once I was ready to play outside of the key of C, but I decided to spend the money to get a Fullsicle harp instead and I don’t regret it. The Fullsicle will be my harp for as long as it lasts. It’s easier to play than the Heather, but I guess that might be fixed by putting some decent strings on the Heather. I’ve made a lot more progress on the Fullsicle than the Heather. I’m more motivated to practice on the Fullsicle since the levers work and it’s easier to play.
If I could only afford $400, I would buy the Heather harp again, but if I could swing the extra I would get a Harpsicle with the Harpsicle stand instead. The Harpsicle stand was a must for me since the Fullsicle doesn’t balance well on it’s own on the footstool I was using.
Maybe I’ll do a video comparison since I have both.
How lucky was I. I did a 2 hour harp workshop and knew i had to have a harp ... NOW. I got home ... saw the Pakistani harps on ebay, but thought otherwise. Got back on the next day and found a 32 stringed (Harp's Australia) harp for sale on Gumtree ... only an hour or so's drive away ... for a very reasonable price. The owner was very sad to say goodbye to the harp which had been given to her by her husband the xmas before. I am now the owner of this beautiful harp ... I'm in love with my harp and get such pleasure playing simple but beautiful tunes. Haven't had lessons other than a little help from Christy-Lyn ...
I have been lucky to have the oportunity to rent an harp (34 strings Mia Salvi) that is actually a better choice if one can do it. I am looking forward to buy a 38 strings from Salvi as soon as I can afford it :)
p.s. And thanks to Christy-Lyn that with her videos inspired me so much to push me starting this adventure.
I didn't expect to start crying at 3:17 but damn that sounded beautiful! Now I need to buy a harp
i bought a cheap one too - pakistani parts, assembled in ireland, with camac levers :-) it actually sounds quite nice, it's in tune, levers work.. unfortunately the sounboard is getting those cracks :-( but i'm also glad i bought it and i hope it's going to play for many more years, because i can't afford a better one yet ;-)
May i know where did you buy your harp? Link please
@@stsoe2124 mine was the last piece there, but these are similar: muzikkon.com/strings/harps/muzikkon-harps/trinity-harps.html and lately i've heard many good reviews on mikel harps, they seem to be quite a good quality for a low price
I own 2 second had harps, one is an killerney which was restored and sounds great, is over 6 yrs old. The second an even older mexican harp which has old bad strings when i bought it and we spend 2 months to restring it and figure out what would work on this harp, due to humidity changes the sound boar d torn off the base but also that has been repaired at home, it still has a great sound. So if you have only a little budget your expectations should b accordingly. Still you can find a great surprise sometimes
Would you do a video on folks that play harp on left shoulder? I feel bad for people that do because they seem to be swept under the rug so to speak. I have been snubbed by some harpist about this and it discourages me as well as other left shoulder players. I am right handed and play treble with right and bass with left. I love your videos and you would be the one to do a video to let the folks know about left shoulder players and explain some things. This would help quite a bit for the few that play left shoulder. Thanks Ron
I bought one of these. It’s held up very well, I’ve had it for over a year and haven’t noticed any cracking or the like. It sounds like a bell. I did have to remove all of the levers as half of them were too stiff to flip and some were even broken, so for now I only play in C...but when I tune it in D it sounds even better. I love it very much, but I do think of it as my starter harp. I will be moving on to a more expensive instrument.
I think at the end of the day, having something to play, or to paint, or do anything else you may wish to do is still better than having nothing and wondering what may happen.
I like that perspective! Something is better than nothing, and it gets you started at least 😊
I got a 15 string askolta ~I think I spelled it right~I have only recently actually started lessons. But I’m very excited. I paid about $300 us for it
This is the same harp that I have. I bought mine from a lady who was selling it on eBay about 15 years ago for £80. Unfortunately, the soundboard also swelled up and is cracked to the point I no longer play it as if I tuned it, it would likely go bang. The frame also has two large cracks in different areas. I am shortly going to be buying a 36 string harp. It is also Pakistani made but the company it's coming from checks every instrument thoroughly and is the same company I bought my digital baby grand piano from 6 years ago which I've been very happy with. They have a very good reputation and will not risk selling an inferior instrument.
This video was quite encouraging. On a lark, I will be picking up a 20 year old 22-string lever harp tomorrow that I purchased on Marketplace (for only $60 - how could I go wrong!). I have no idea who the manufacturer was, or from where, but the little harp has only been a decoration for about 20 years, never played ... or tuned. 😬
My Husband and I are capable of any carpentry (luthier?) skills that may be required to the structure ... and also relocating the levers, should that be necessary.
I am familiar enough with folk harps to know I need to take the tuning process very s-l-o-w-l-y so the harp, and strings, can adjust to being under tension. I've got time.
I took harp lessons on a Troubadour in 1980 - only a few months before getting pregnant with my first daughter, and immediately becoming violently ill with 24/7 "morning sickness", and then we moved to a small town far away from any harp instruction. And that was the end of that.
Even if the lovely little vintage harp only lasts a few months and then has catastrophic structural failure, for only $60, even with the possible purchase of a case (more than I am paying for the harp), plus a tuning key, and replacement & spare strings, I will finally have the opportunity to give playing a harp another go. If my decades-older fingers can still perform the moves, then a higher quality harp will be a resonable investment; but if my aging digits can't strum the strings, I have lost very little ... and my Grandkids will have a little harp to play around with. 🎶❤🤗
Great! Sounds like a fun project with little to lose, as you said. Might want to replace the strings too 👍🏻 If you enjoy playing it, you can get a better harp with confidence that you’ll enjoy it even more!
I am looking at muzikkon harps. From what I understand the parts are made in Pakistan but it is put together and checked for quality control in Ireland. They have collaborated with a harp teacher in their design and development. This makes them more affordable. Could you please try and review a Muzikkon harp and the Rowenna Rose harp as well?
Hi there! I’ve never tried one and I don’t know any students who bought them. Perhaps it would be good to post of the Learning the Harp Together Facebook group to see if anyone there has experience with them? ❤️
My harp has 12 strings. And I love the harp! I want to get a bigger one!
Nice! 😃🙌🏻
Some of the other harpists would have taken or mailed the “cheap” to a harp repair shop. Some harpists would have also got in contact with The American Harp Society, The World Harp Congress, another harp society for information about the harp repair shop nearest them.
That would be nice! But cheap harps can cost more to get fixed by a professional, than the value of the harp itself, so for that reason repair people usually refuse to fix a harp like this, since it’s not just the breaking that’s the problem, it’s the design of the harp and the materials it’s made from. I’d say it’s a better use of your money to save up and buy a better harp, rather than spending money on getting it fixed by a professional 😊
Hello! I have just purchased a Heather Harp and I am also noticing that the levers are... well, not great. They're crooked, stiff, and in the wrong spot. I would like to fix them, but I have a couple questions:
1: will the levers loosen up over time, or is this just how they are? could I oil them to loosen them up, or would this cause problems in ways I haven't foreseen? what if I removed them from the harp before trying this, and just incorporated it into the overall lever repair process?
2: is there information out there somewhere on how, exactly, to go about moving the levers? I don't have a lot of experience with carpentry or anything related and I would hate to accidentally destroy my harp.
If I can't fix it, I can't fix it, but I'd like to know what my options are. Thanks!
(Also: yes, I see you, experienced luthier in the comments. and technically you are correct. However! my country is on lockdown! and I am sad! and harps are sort of hard to come by right now, so I'm just going to give this a try and if it doesn't work it doesn't work. at least it'll tide me over until other types of harp are back in stock.)
Hi Elizabeth! Those are some very good questions. I can’t answer them myself, but I think some solid searching on Google will certainly help you with the second question. I’d just go for it and see what you can do to make it better! It’s worth a try 👌🏻
I still think it'd be better to invest just a few extra dollars for a harpsicle or just rent a harp while you're still learning, it's cheaper in the long-run because eventually this harp -will- break and youll have to buy another one or you'll have to invest more time and money in fixing it when errors arise.
I am considering buying a second hand harp so if you can please answer my question would be greatly appreciated!
It is a 22 string harp and what I like is that it would be easily transportable however despite never touching a harp I really want to take it seriously and master it so should I start with a 22 string and then at the end of the year purchase a 34 plus string harp. Would it be easy to figure out the additional strings as I do not know how to read music or know the cords?
Your swift response would help me make a decision!!! 🙏🏻🕊
Hello! Before buying I would just make sure to see it in person to ensure it is in good condition. If it's financially feasible I would suggest starting with the 34 string harp! Larger harps can actually be easier to learn on for beginners because they support their own weight, while smaller harps can sometimes be more wobbly and it takes effort to keep stable as you're playing. But there's also no harm in trying out the 22 string, and then transitioning to a larger harp later on when you're sure you want to stick with it! If you'd like some guidance as you get started, we have a program we're running in August called 'Harp Beginnings' where we teach you the basics of playing the harp. You'll learn 3 songs, learn how to play from chords, and you'll get personal feedback from me and get to meet other beginner players! 🤗 Here is more info: www.learningtheharp.com/harp-beginnings/
Could not locate the links mentioned. Would really like to see the list of recommendations for inexpensive harps. Thank you.
Sorry about that Marcelle! We haven’t set up this page on our new version of the website. The harps we recommended are the Fireside harp from Backyard Music, the Harpsicle from Harpsicle Harps, and the Ravenna 26 from Dusty Strings.
I just saw some videos on a 36 stringed harp sold by gear4music.com. A harpist was playing it and it sounded great. Its not the Megan one Its something new. I did notice the carvings on it though that looked like the Mideastern cheap ones. Could this be a better one than the cheap ones of the past? Its for sale around 800 dollars. I was thinking though of taxes or tarriffs from other countries etc which would make it out of range considering the cost for low budget people. Have you seen it yet?
Her harp is like mine
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thank you
Oh my ...❤
The link to recommended harps isn’t working
Hello everyone! 🥰
I want to buy my first Harp and I am thinking of getting the New Lyon Healy Drake Lever Harp with Biocarbon 34 strings or the Una from Salvi with 38 Silkgut Copper strings...
Wich one is the best? Do you recomend other Harps? I need some help to make a good investiment. I don't want to buy a Harp that lasts a year... Thank you 💗
Both very good choices! 😃💕👍🏻
It just depends on which you prefer playing.
@@LearningtheHarp
Are the Silkgut Cooper Strings better than Biocarbon and durable and resistant to humidity since they are synthetic?
Thank you so much for your support 🥰💗
Hi Cristina! I don’t have a lot of experience with those types of strings, so unfortunately I can’t help with that. I would suggest chatting to someone in sales at a harp shop or a harp maker. Even if you don’t end up buying from them, if you phone around I’m sure you’ll find someone who is knowledgeable with the comparison of those two types of strings 😊
I'm a Pakistani myself and I have been pondering about getting a harp myself, you can assume that I can't find an authentic one only the Pakistani kind though now I feel as though I'll be fine, as long as I have the drive and passion.
There is at least one harp maker in Pakistan who makes decent harps, I’ve heard. I would try contacting Harpsicle and ask for their advice - I remember them talking about a Pakistani harp maker who was making good harps.
There is at least one harp maker in Pakistan who makes decent harps, I’ve heard. I would try contacting Harpsicle and ask for their advice - I remember them talking about a Pakistani harp maker who was making good harps.
I’m new to harps. So was that a considered a baby small harp or harpsicle??
It’s a “lap harp” or a “small harp”. It’s only a Harpsicle if it’s made by Harpsicle Harps company 😊
@@LearningtheHarp Thanks.
My harpsicle sounded too tinny. I sold it.
You didn't say the cost of that harp; the most important information
Ah sorry to disappoint! The cost is constantly changing which is why I didn’t mention it.
@@LearningtheHarp Ok, I'm new to this harp thing. I'm considering getting one. I'd like to know what is the cheapest harp I could get that is still good quality, and full size with 47 strings or whatever. Thanks!
If you want to invest in a good size to start, I suggest the 34 string Ballad harp from Music Makers (on my site www.learningtheharp.com/shop) or the Ravenna 34 from Dusty Strings. If those are outside your price range, the next thing to consider is the Ravenna 27 from Dusty Strings. If that is still too much for you, I would consider getting a Harpsicle or a Fireside harp while you save up… but in my opinion it’s worth starting with a floor harp if you can! It’s much easier to learn on a floor harp, and better for setting you for success with your technique.
A lot of people misunderstand the cost of ownership. You pay, lets say $400 for this pakistani harp and in a year its worthless so you are out $400. Buy a sharpsicle for $600 and you can probably sell it immediately on craigslist or $400, if you wait for the right buyer, more. So the real cost is $200. Meanwhile you have a better experience.
Renting is similar when its not rent to own. It's just a total loss. Quite often you would be better off buying the $600 product, deciding you don't like it in 6 months and selling it. How much is 6 months of rent? Probably more than $200.
You should factor in investment losses if you are really going for accuracy but in general people I think miss this and its important.
That is true, but the challenge some people face is not having enough cash up front to make that investment. So it’s a tricky issue!
There is already a lot of privilege in being able to buy a sharpsicle for $600. Where I live, a used sharpsicle could easily cost twice that much, and you have to trust the buyer that it's only been used for 2 years when in fact it could be a lot older. And the living wage here is about one tenth of the American wages. So I totally understand people who get by with whatever they can afford.
@@barefacedquestions Privilege? I grew up poor and worked to be able to afford modest expenses of $1000 that I can resell for most of my money back. Your victim mentality is not doing you any favors. You are smart enough to find a way to afford a $600 harp. Spend your energy seeking that instead of wallowing in talk of privilege.
@@WobblePizza I never said that I can afford a $600 harp. I'm still saving up for a used 23-string level harp sold at $500. Good day.
Someone who deals in these harps should complain and ask for better workmanship on these. They are pretty but i had one one time that sounded quite like a banjo...
It would seem by taking care of the wood the harp could last a lifetime; perhaps I'm wrong but it would seem so.
If it’s a well made harp, as long as it’s not damaged it should last more than a lifetime! 😄
🎶🙂🎶
I agree with you, but doesn't sound that great. By the way you get what you pay for. Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendations.
My daughter can't wait to get her first harp.