Can I use guitar strings on autoharp?

The autoharp needs a special string set. Guitar strings are very poor substitutes. The wound strings of the bass end are the same type as on a piano, on which only the core wire of a wound string contacts the bridges. A guitar string would hang up and break.

How do you play B Minor on autoharp?

Hold down the D bar, check at the base of the autoharp to see what the notes are on each string, and pinch to get as many of the D and F# notes as you can without hitting the A strings. As long as there’s another instrument sounding the B note, it’ll sound OK, even if the autoharp itself sounds a bit thin.

How many strings does an autoharp have?

36 strings
Modern autoharps most often have 36 strings, with some examples having as many as 47 strings, and rare 48-string models (such as Orthey Autoharps No. 136, tuned to G and D major).

Is an autoharp difficult to play?

The Autoharp Is A Real Musical Instrument! Perhaps one of the reasons you decided to learn to play the autoharp is because it’s EASY. Well, that’s certainly true! Once you get it tuned, you can pick up the autoharp, make some pretty chords and strum along with your singing on simple songs after only a few minutes.

How many chords are there on the autoharp?

A standard 15-chord Autoharp has the major chords between Eb and D, plus several seventh chords, allowing you to play most songs in Bb, F, C, G, and D.

What are the different types of Autoharps?

The Autoharp is not the most widely-known instrument, but its distinctive sound and easy method of playing make it very rewarding to play.

• Oscar Schmidt OS45CE (Acoustic/Electric Autoharp)
• ChromaHarp 21 Chord Auto Harp.
• Oscar Schmidt OS15B Autoharp.
• Oscar Schmidt 21 Chord Autoharp OS21C.
• Oscar Schmidt OS73B Autoharp.

How do you dust an autoharp?

The finish on your autoharp can be cleaned by gently wiping it with a microfiber cloth. You can dust the wood underneath the strings using a soft bristle brush. If you use a cleaner or polish, spray or dab the polish directly onto the cloth, then use the cloth to clean your instrument.

What are the different types of autoharp strings?

Oscar Schmidt’s autoharp strings are available in two versions: Model A with eyelet ends and Model B with ball ends (like a guitar). Model A autoharp strings are designed for traditional autoharps built before 1967, while the Model B set is for modern autoharps made after 1967.

What is a B string on an autoharp?

Their model B autoharp strings are primarily for instruments built after 1967. The ends of these “B” strings anchor underneath an aluminum bar, or into a fine tuner at the bottom.

What kind of strings do Oscar Schmidt autoharps have?

The Oscar Schmidt Co.has manufactured autoharps since the early 1900s, and we offer 36-string Oscar Schmidt autoharp string sets in loop endor ball end. Once you have your strings strung, our tuning hammerwill make your life a whole lot easier.

What is an autoharp?

From June Carter Cash to The Rolling Stones, the autoharp can be found in a wide spectrum of musical genres, but it is predominate in American folk music. With origins in Germany and popularized in the United States in the late 19th century, the autoharp is a box zither with 15 to 50 plus strings.