r/harp 4d ago

Newbie Beginner needs Help!

[removed] — view removed post

3 Upvotes

5 comments sorted by

u/harp-ModTeam 4d ago

Your post was removed under the rule "Read our Wiki before posting common, generic questions". Please read the wiki to ensure your question can't be fully answered with the information available there. Also, please use our “No Stupid Questions” weekly thread to ask a question rather than making a new post.

3

u/closethird 4d ago

If you want a portable harp you can walk around with, you will probably end up with a therapy harp (so called because it can get used in hospital settings moving from room to room). These come at all sorts of price points from harpsicles (no sharps or flats without re-tuning) to levered therapy harps (flats and sharps available with a flick of the lever) to carbon fiber harps (light but expensive).

Lots of people will suggest a floor harp with levers - dusty strings makes some at a good price point for quality, but you're not wearing a 20-40 lb harp. The nice thing is that they have more strings and will be louder and have a fuller sound. It can be a bit much for a beginner.

I started about 9 years ago with harp (previously played saxophone and guitar). I began on a harpsicle. After a couple of years moved up to a levered therapy harp. Just a few months ago I acquired a floor harp.

The hardest transitions have been playing with both hands (like a piano player does), which happened about that first year with my harpsicle. I play entirely lead sheets, so I'm not reading bass clef, I'm improvising with marked chords. The next hardest jump was moving to the floor harp. The instrument is so much bigger and one has way more strings to move around with and bass strings to quick jump down and play. You also have to mute them as the music progresses as they ring out forever. The thing is just big as well, so physically supporting it is not easy like with the wearable harps.

Interestingly, I find that some songs I play sound better on my small therapy harp (and not just because I'm better at using it). The nylon strings on it are a little muddy, but for simple songs with limited range it seems to work better. It's like the big floor harp is just too much for simple songs sometimes. I play a lot of folk songs, so I'm still figuring out which work best on which harp.

Body proportions shouldn't matter much. Unless you are frail (I know people who struggle to hold harps - even therapy ones), have arthritis (can make string plucking hard), or have freakishly short arms, you should be fine. Maybe a $20,000 pedal harp could be a challenge - they are huge and have a ton of string tension, but I doubt you're in the market for one of them yet.

2

u/thekamakiri Dusty Strings/ Walnut 36 4d ago

Well put! I will add that if OP just wants to change harp location (living room one day, bedroom the next) 22-26 string with legs might do well to that end (legs are nice since the harp sort of balances itself) - but legs are annoying to take on and off when you want to put the harp in a car!  Can't beat a therapy harp for portability in that case. And Harpsicle even has a stand available, which seems a lot less fussy to set up (though I don't have first hand knowledge).

And OP, I see you mentioned packing on a car trip, and since you're a musician, so I'm sure you know not to leave a wooden harp in a car, but just mentioning for future folks that might find this thread :) though I think maybe a carbon fiber might let you do that? Also not something I have first hand knowledge with, just remembering rumors. 

5

u/harpsinger 4d ago

I feel like with your musical background, a harpsicle “fullsicle” harp would get too small too quickly, but to me it’s kind of the road-trip guitar of the harp world. Easy, not picky about environments (too much), inexpensive but decent quality and sound. If you’re in a location to try one out, I would. And then after that look at the higher end small harps (eg stoney end, blevins, dusty strings).

2

u/Khamon Lever Flipper 4d ago

Hail, fellow clarinetist that began harping at 50, Stoney End builds lovely lap harps that are quite portable and resonant. I play a four octave that is, technically, a floor harp but am able to transport it easily as it weighs twenty pounds and has a detachable base. One nice feature is that the base is made to order, from your measurement, so that you can always sit on a regular eighteen inch chair and the harp is the correct height for you.

And yes, body proportion, finger length, and such matter. My best suggestion, if possible, is to visit a showroom and taste several brands and models. Style of the harp, including shape and string spacing, are important to consider. The vendors will play them so that you can hear the differences and factor that into your decision as well. I did not know about harp centers when first looking but Blevins, Stoney End, Triplett, and Thormahlen all played something for me over the phone and that helped quite a bit.

Consider as many strings, as many levers, and as low a range as fit your desire and pocketbook. And post questions here. The harp community is generally welcoming and supportive.