Do a quick google search and you should be able to find a digital caliper for less than $20. The table is sortable. Terminology. If you sort the table by note you can scroll down until you see all the examples of G4 (G above Middle C) You’ll find six examples from different instruments. SPN is a way to identify a specific musical pitch using the musical note name and a number which identifies the pitch’s octave. To show the difference between the standard 21-button autoharp and the Oscar Schmidt's Americana, we have two little charts. If you are concerned about the structural integrity of your instrument, it might be wise to lean toward the lighter gauge string. Body & Construction Top Wood Maple. Look for the example that has the VL closest to what you need. Diatonic harps sacrifice a few of those sharps and flats (black keys) in favor of doubling up the most important notes in a particular key. We understand that this can be frustrating and confusing. You can click on the Header of each column to sort from smallest to largest. The mid-octave range of the chromatic autoharp starts at F, which is the lowest bass note, and then ranging to C at its highest treble note. It's been hailed as a wonderful instrument for children and elderly, because it is simple and easy to play. These are the most common used for Autoharp. You know that the string is supposed to be tuned to G above Middle C and you have measured the Vibrating Length to be 18″ but you don’t know what gauge replacement string to use. 191 0 obj <>stream You are designing an instrument and need to know what gauge string to use. A hammered dulcimer, like an autoharp, harp, or piano, requires a tuning wrench for tuning, since the dulcimer's strings are wound around tuning pins with square heads. piano keyboard, but for the autoharp it may be thought of as a II (Re) as well, because they are the same note, and the octave in which it is played is not as important. In this system, Middle C on a piano is C4. Autoharp strings are steel. A wound string is necessary to provide enough mass when the string tension for a given note and VL falls below 30% of its breaking point. 1. On a standard chromatic autoharp, and with this being the standard foundational octave, this is the middle F. As aforementioned, an electronic tuner will prove inv… (Ordinarily, 5 mm "zither pins" are used, similar to, but smaller in diameter than piano tuning pins, which come in various sizes ranging upwards from "1/0" or 7 mm.) … Place your finger over the fret, but don't press the string down to the fretboard. Look down the column to find the chord, in other words, the chord shape that you're playing. The Berkshire’s handcrafted quality makes it a popular 15-chord Autoharp. You have a zither that is missing a string. Autoharp information is organized into three sections: Song Charts/Notation. If the note is sharp, turn the tuning wrench counter clockwise b. An autoharp is a great teacher of basic music theory and more. With this fine tuner assembly, each string is threaded through a small cam and secured to the anchor bar with an Allen screw and a washer. Helpful how to instruction guides help you earn about the autoharp chord layout, mounting autoharp strap buttons, pick-up installation help, replace autoharp felt, restring/tune your autoharp and more. It should be fairly straight forward to figure this out. More common in that vibrating length would be a D5 (the D above the C one octave above Middle C). The harmonic sounds like a chime. Amazon's Choice for autoharp tuning. You find a few D notes in the 14″ range to chose from. I’ll start with a brief overview of these ideas and then give you a few scenarios where this table would come in handy and how to make use of it. This system has proven to be indispensable for “serious” musicians who find themselves tuning their autoharp very often… This diatonic autoharp is made to play only in G Major/Eminor. The most difficult thing about playing the autoharp is tuning it! Copyright © 2020 Musicmakers Instruments. Lay the tuner near the Autoharp 3. This video is about using a chromatic tuner to tune your Oscar Schmidt autoharp. Troubleshooting. An autoharp or chromaharp; A tuning wrench; A chromatic tuner; And no other prior musical knowledge; That's one of the great things about the autoharp. Many other chord combinations are available. Whether you want to build a musical instrument from a DIY Kit or whether you are looking for the best musical instrument for you - we want to help. More tension will generally result in a louder, clearer tone. Check the tuner a. %PDF-1.6 %���� A course may consist of one or more strings.. Pluck the string with your right hand to produce the harmonic. Wound strings have a steel core and a bronze winding. A realistic autoharp for iOS and Android phones and tablets. We offer two different autoharp models: the Whippoorwill and the Heartland. Tuners either clip to the body of the harp or are placed close to the harp to pick up its sound. (By the way, custom autoharp manufacturer d’Aigle Autoharps uses this setup on their 21-chorders, unless you request a different one.) Golden Gate DH-40 T-Shaped Tuning Hammer. Check the harmonic with the tuner. CAUTION: Usually, a slight turn of the tuning wrench will tune a string. The number, or octave, changes on the C notes. tune with all the others. They can be stretched, not too much. Specifications. Developed in the late 1800s, the autoharp is a popular instrument in folk and country music. Just look for D. Get the guaranteed best price on Tuners like the Endust Autoharp Tuning Wrench at Musician's Friend. Like all stringed instruments, autoharps need regular tuning. "The Autoharp Owner's Manual" covers autoharp maintenance, conversions, tuning and string schedules (both diatonic and chromatic), building your own instrument, playing techniques, evaluating instruments, chord bar setups, amplification, history, and much more. If your instrument seems overbuilt, you should be safe to lean toward the heavier gauge. (The mouse may just look like a cursor when you hover over a column header but click anyway. After installing the fine tuners I replaced the old chrome anchor cover with laminated cherry stained to match the autoharp body. They are also often sold at home improvement stores. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store ($.99) Home. Play the 12th fret harmonic for the same string. Click the Header again and the table will sort from largest to smallest. You know that the string is supposed to be tuned to G above Middle C and you have measured the Vibrating Length to be 18″ but you don’t know what gauge replacement string to use. 12 chords C,G,D,A Major, Em, Am,Bm, GM 7, D7, A7-3(partial) Gsus4, and Dsus4. Usually this distance is measured from the bridge to a guide pin or tuning pin. The Sort by Pitch column is there to easily sort the notes from low to high. If the note is flat, turn the tuning wrench clockwise 7. 0 Harp makers use many types and gauges of strings. Release Notes. If you sort the Note column you will get all like note names clustered together. 95. Every harp takes different strings. This web site is not intended as a comprehensive source of autoharp knowledge, although I may show referral links to other sites espousing conventional wisdom. You’ll find the Bowed Psaltery uses a .010″ and the Kantele and Hognose use a .014. This is a beautiful instrument and can be a great accompaniment in G Major. Tuning Your Autoharp There are many ways to tune an autoharp, with many types of tuning to use, such as 2/9 comma meantone, ¼ comma meantone, just tuning, etc. The doubled strings create a fuller, more ringing sound, and for playing tunes as o… The standard autoharp is chromatic, which means that it includes all the 12 notes in an octave (all the black and white keys on a piano). Settings. Having had a couple of 12 and 15 chord autoharps, including an old “black box” Sears autoharp, I was pleased with the musical range and general quality of my new autoharp, and impressed with the very clever design of the chord bar system. As is his chart on how he reworks classic 15-button autoharps into G/D diatonic models. This information could also be used as a resource for those that wish to design their own musical instrument and need to figure out how to string it. Tempering, experimenting with the common string until both chords sound ok, would be a good solution. endstream endobj startxref Get it as soon as Thu, Sep 10. The overall effect is to make the autoharp sound more like a hammered dulcimer. The purpose of this page is to help you find the correct replacement string for your instrument. This is simply the length of string that is allowed to vibrate freely when plucked. When you find you have a different gauge options to choose from – remember that increasing the diameter for a given note and VL will increase the tension. 4.5 out of 5 stars 192. Lay the Autoharp on a flat surface 2. Back in the 1970s I got my first Oscar Schmidt 21 chord autoharp. Turn on the tuner 4. Solid maple construction. Now, say you're moving from your Ragtime Banjo Society gig to a Folk, Bluegrass, Celtic, or Country gig, and your new bandmates want to do the same song in A that you're used to playing in F. You'll discover in a heartbeat that you don't have the chords you need, which may include, not only D and E7 but also A, Em, and B7 (present on a 21-chorder, but not on a 15-chorder) as well as E, Bm, F#m and maybe even C#m. We often hear from folks that have “found an old zither in the attic” or “picked up this instrument at a garage sale” or had an instrument given to them by a well-intentioned friend or relative. It has a rock maple pin block to assure it is always in tune. AUTOHARP TUNING THEORY AND PRACTICE Introduction First the bad news ---- you will never get all the strings of your Autoharp perfectly in tune. Back Wood Maple. Notes: Autoharp strings are made of steel, they can stretch a … Pick that note 6. @���ƸH2���ո�� �������� �N�^�QJ�g`�{ � �� The autoharp is a stringed instrument that is strummed or plucked with one hand while the other hand presses keys to alter the pitches of the strings. Some folks have very elaborate methods of arriving at the special tunings which can be very satisfying. How to use this table. The fine tuning system is a secondary way to tune your autoharp and allows for a much more precise tuning… Just like what you would find on a violin or a cello. You have to balance this against the additional stress you will place on the instrument. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you put the correct strings on your harp. So it's easy to say that you can play songs in the key of A on a 21-chord autoharp, but that isn't the sam… . Put the tuning wrench on any tuning pin 5. Find the fret where the capo is by looking at the top row of the chart. This indicates the use of a wound strings. h�bbd```b``�����ai�D��I�P}�!D��ٱ Rj��RS�bG��M� �� �)$�r�. The table below uses Scientific Pitch Notation (SPN). Anyway, one thing that interested me was the idea of diatonic tunings. h�b``�f``�����l��A���b�@��`���Y�"#��N!� `,' iI ���02l�]r`���P��d�ܟ^���u�xy. This app works like a real autoharp: just push one of the chord buttons and strum! Over 40 years later, we’ve grown into one of the world’s most respected sellers of new, used, and vintage fretted instruments.Learn more This page is for all autoharp lovers, pickers and grinners, and is brought to you by Lindsay Haisley, FMP Computer Services and the Cyberpluckers autoharp community.It may help you stay up-to-date on autoharp news and help you connect with players, performers, luthiers and … In order to make good use of this information and find the correct string, it helps to understand a few concepts about strings on musical instruments and about how the chart below is set up. $13.95 $ 13. Autoharp. More Buying Choices $12.77 (2 used & new offers) Autoharp Wrench. On a majority of instruments, this places the notes from low to high pitch.Exceptions exist: Instruments using reentrant tuning (e.g., the charango) may have a high string before a low string. The Berkshire features maple back and top wood and a gloss finish. Includes: Easy Chord Autoharp Model OS-6 Tuning Record w/Sleeve(no tuning wrench) Song Book Box(light box wear) Great collectible. • This will perfect the tuning of your autoharp. Todd Crowley has a tuning system called "Prizim Zither", a chord system that lets you play a lot of dense chords if you are willing to push two buttons at a time. Building a Harp: Woodworking Tips and Customization Ideas. So it is safe to conclude that a .016″ string will work for your instrument. Turn the key very slowly and gently. Measures about 15" long. The Whippoorwill is our flagship model and features premium top woods, up to 21 chord bars, a French polish finish and other top-end cosmetic features. Your VL is 18″ which is right between the Autoharp (17.375″) and the Hognose Psaltery (19″). Maybelle Carter. Don't worry about the type of chord, for instance, whether you're playing a D major or a D minor chord. All Whippoorwill autoharps undergo testing in our acoustics lab in order to optimize bracing and sound hole placement during construction. Purchase a tuning key, electronic tuner, and guitar pick. With that being said, it is this octave then that must be tuned first, as, aforementioned; this is the foundational octave for all the others. Get a low price and free shipping on thousands of items. So the C one octave above middle C would be C5 and so on. Example- Cadd9 (Cadd2) C E G D (C D E G). Additionally, the mid-octave range is where most all arrangements are developed. There are a myriad variety of these old zithers, psalteries, ukelins, and other musical instruments around and most of them need some strings. %%EOF 144 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<2F760CBBFFABF74F8D42BA5558132658>]/Index[117 75]/Info 116 0 R/Length 127/Prev 576278/Root 118 0 R/Size 192/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Therefore, as a courtesy to our customers, we are providing printable string charts for many popular harps. When you are ready to order a string – Click here. Both of those instruments use a .016″ diameter string. Musicmakers has been helping people add music to their lives since 1978. FREE Shipping on your first order shipped by Amazon. Buying New To me, buying a used, unrefurbished autoharp is a bad gamble unless it shows no signs of rust, is in good condition, and is half or less the cost of a similar new one. To learn more about special tunings and methods, a session with Bryan Bowers, Demo Video. Here is a video of my version of this system, made on Dec 26, 2013, which runs in the keys of Eb -> A instead of F-> B This is the diameter of the string. The table below contains a collection of several strings we use on our instruments. Some of the gauges in the chart below are highlighted orange. Unfortunately, if you have ever brought one of these instruments into a modern music shop and asked for some new strings, you are not likely to get much help. Tuning Record, Box click picture to enlarge This is a Vintage Easy Chord Red Autoharp Model OS-6 by Oscar Schmidt. The advantage of diatonic tuning is the doubled … Condition appears excellent to me. Various Chord Bar Set-Ups. Check the tuning with the electronic tuner to make sure it is perfectly in tune. For example, let’s say the vibrating length is 14″ and you want the note to be tuned to a D. You can sort the table below by VL. Courses are listed reading from left to right facing the front of the instrument, with the instrument standing vertically. If the old string is still on the instrument you can measure the diameter with a digital caliper. Scenario 1: You have a zither that is missing a string. The mandolin uses a wound .024″ string for D4 (the D right next to Middle C). Fine tuning is achieved by turning the screws with a provided Allen wrench. Most lap harp kits and electronic tuners include a tuning key—a small "L"-shaped silver instrument with a hole that fits over the tuning pegs on the sides of the instrument. • Then use the fine tuning wrench to tighten the fine tuning screws at the base of each string using the same clockwise and counterclockwise motions as mentioned above. Tuning Theory and Practice. 117 0 obj <> endobj Founded in 1972, Elderly Instruments started as a small store with a handful of instruments. It works.). See the keyboard below. 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Is his chart on how he reworks classic 15-button autoharps into G/D diatonic models customers, we have two charts! Of strings 14″ range to chose from the 14″ range to chose from the length of string that is a!