Autoharp - Restoring Part 2 - Can it glue?
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- In this video I look at two autoharps I found for sale in need of repair.
I look at one in detail and figure out how it works and how to repair it to a state of playability.
Autoharps are really interesting instruments and allow for some really nice sounds. It works by having many strings which are able to be muted to form desired chords.
I really enjoy find these broken instruments and learning how they work but also getting them playing again. If you also enjoy watching, please do share/like it means a lot to me.
I did buy a tuning key, though it is a little tight and only fits one harp. I would like something a little more robust. I found that these clock keys fit well though doesn't offer a lot of room for tuning.
Thank you Dean
This is how it is tuned, what chords would you set this to play?
1 C x
2 D x x x x
3 G x x x x
4 A x x x x
5 B x x
6 C x
7 C# x x x x
8 D x x x x
9 E x x x x
10 F
11 F# x x x x
12 G x x x x
13 A x x x x
14 B x x x
15 C x
16 C# x x x x
17 D x x x x
18 E x x x x
19 F
20 F# x x x x
21 G x x x x
22 A x x x x
23 B x x x
24 C x
25 C# x x x x
26 D x x x x
27 E x x x x
28 F
29 F# x x x x
30 G x x x x
31 A x x x x
32 B x x x
These are the chords I am thinking about, I have put the most useful ones in the middle and work outwards. So that when I play the instrument the linked chords should be together. What do you think?
D7 D F# A C#
F#m F# A C#
C C E G
G G B D
D D F# A
A A C# E
Em E G B
Bm B D F#
C#dim C# E G
Though this doesnt use the F at all....
These are the instruments of our grandparents and great grandparents. I'm sure they are covering their ears up in heaven, they wouldn't like the newfangled music we're making with them!
So true, as we cover our ears to hide the noise created from the next generation! haha
I found that the key to finding the right tool is just a matter of knowing the right name for it. In this instance, the name for the tuning wrench you're looking for is a "Tuning Hammer". This is the same type of tool used to tune pianos, but you don't need a full sized hammer for a Autoharp.
I would guess that this is a Diaphonic autoharp, rather than a Chromatic one, based on the string tuning. Upside of Diaphonic is that it's louder, there are more duplicate strings, downside is that it's generally only good for playing in 1 or 2 keys (and maybe a natural minor). It's kinda weird that they have F strings and aren't using them. You could tune the F strings down to a D or up to a G to help reinforce your root notes, or perhaps just remove them entirely to help reduce string tension. Main Upside of a chromatic autoharp is that you can play in more keys. My chromatic Chromaharp has 21 chord bars, and can generally play well in keys of: C, D, F, G, and most of A (with most of their natural minors). Downside is that the harp is quieter with less strings sounding per chord, and more dead notes (muted strings), accentuating the *thwup* *thwup* sound you get from strumming muted strings.
Also make sure you are pushing down hard enough on the chord bars that you are fully muting the strings, re-felting them should help with that. One potential pitfall with changing up the chord bar tuning and especially moving them around, is to avoid any potential nodes on the strings. Otherwise, you may end up with some unintended harmonics when you try to mute a string.
Noooooo! Not the transporter book! Now it will never get back in tune! 😁
Do you repair other people s autoharps as I have an Oscar schmidt harp and the strings are muffled in it for some reason I have nt been able to work out as I m new to this
Hi drop me an email and I will try to help. I don't normally offer fix other peoples stuff. But if you send a couple of photos of your harp, I'll try to do my best. The email address is in about part of my channel page.
@@deancoyle ok thanks