Harp Buying Guide

Despite being an ancient instrument (consider the lyre), the harp is also one of the most esoteric in modern music. Though rarely heard these days, the harp fits beautifully into Folk, Jazz and Classical genres, and can of course can be incorporated into any style, given a talented musician.

If you are looking to buy a harp, you should already have some harp experience and be certain that you want to select this as your instrument. Harp prices run well into the thousands, with the newer models reaching up £22,000. Most people hire a harp while training, which allows you to feel for the one that suits you best.

Pedal Harps

The Pedal Harp  employs seven pedals to change the key of the harp. Pushing the pedals rotates disks at the tops of the harp which shorten the string.

Pedal Harps are typically more ornate and resonant, and usually for the more advanced harpist.

Lever Harps

Also known as a Folk Harp,  or a Celtic Harp, the Lever Harp  changes key by a mechanism pressing a lever against the strings, thus shortening them.

Lever harps are lighter than Pedal harps, come in a variety of sizes and are generally more portable.   

Multi-Course Harp

Multi-Course Harps,  which include the cross-string,  double-string  and triple harps,  have more than one set of strings. A cross-strung's strings cross at the midpoint between both strings, so that either hand can play either note. The double-strung harp has two sets of identical strings running parallel. Unlike the single-course harp, the versatility does not diminish as the size shrinks, thus making it a popular portable harp. 

Stringing  is a very important aspect of harps, as they are perhaps the most defining piece of the harp's sound. Lever/Celtic Harps are typically strung with wire, gut or nylon. Wire tends to have a louder, sharper sound than nylon, and tends to ring longer. Gut and Nylon are more muted, while Nylon is easier to maintain and cheaper than gut. On pedal harps, the lower strings can be steel wrapped in copper. Buy a harp with a minimum of 27 strings in order to get a full bass range.

Polish 

Travel Bench 

Tuners 

Dampits 

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