My band director asked me if I would be interested in learning harp for a competition piece. Definitely stressful for a very average high school percussionist. I have seen so many videos about the basics of harp but this one is the most helpful by far. Explained in a way that is easy for everyone to understand, whether they are a musician or not. Thank you for making such an informative video :)
I'm not even interested in playing a harp, but I saw a pedal harp on another video and wanted to know how that works - and you have explained it perfectly! Thank you very much! :)
I'm getting into composition and studying different instruments, and I loved this video! I see a lot of music channels where it almost feels like your instrument is a status symbol. While a lot of those professionals compare price tags and make beginners feel guilty for buying something too 'cheap' or 'advanced' for them, you encourage people to start on whatever instrument, in whatever capacity, they want or can. We need more of that in the music world. I don't play harp, but if I ever do, this is the first channel I'm going to! 😊💛 Thank you!
I wish I hadn't seen this. You've removed most of the mystery and almost made it dangerously accessible. Now I'll be watching Craigslist and estate sales hoping to find a used pedal harp. It's got similarities to the chromatic harmonica in that you can get 3 notes out of each string, where in a harmonica, you can get 3 or 4 notes out of each hole. It's got to be great for the brain.
Thanks so much. Your video is clearly sequenced and easy for me to understand. I have just started learning some pieces in b/# keys so now I can try out the pedals properly!
Thank you so much for the insight, this was very instructive. I'm a pianist, but the harp always has been an instrument that fascinates me. Despite the all the great explanations though, I still can't help but ask myself why there has to be so many pedals, and why they each have to change the pitch of the strings 3 different ways. Enharmonic equivalents exist, so the mechanism seems so much more complex to me than it really needs to be, at least to me. If you only had 5 pedals instead of 7, with each pedal altering the pitch only 2 different ways instead of 3, you'd still have access to all the chromatic notes ! Instead of moving the pedal to reach C-flat, why not just pluck the B string ? I'm assuming all of this might have something to do with the key you're in, but I'd still love to see you go in depth in this topic ! Thanks for the awesome videos.
Harp is pretty much off of my radar in my day to day life, but I love the sound of it. Always wondered what the story with the pedals are. Appreciate that you took the time to make this video. The inner workings of a harp like this must be pretty complex. I assume that you have to tune the pedals too? To make sure that the pins move just the right amount?
Hi! Nice video! I found this on a book: "I should point out that the disk mechanism of the 47-string pedal harp typically does not extend to the high G and the contrabass D and C. (In fact, the lowest two bass strings on any size pedal harp do not have a disk mechanism.) These strings must be manually retuned and the harpist must stand to do it. Therefore, the composer should consider these strings to be permanently fixed in pitch in the natural position, not capable of any semitone alteration." Is this affirmation true?
Thank you! A while ago I created a blog post about pedal technique, where I've included a small video snippet of my pedal work: www.zuzanna-harpist.com/7-steps-making-pedals-secure/ Could you please let me know if there's any particular aspect of pedal technique you would like to know more about? Is it just the very moment of moving a pedal, or something else around this topic?
Hello and thank you for your comment! I'd perhaps check out first one of the build-your-own-harp kits for lap harps, just to start with an easier challenge and get to know how the strings and the soundboard make the sound. There are quite a few around these days so I hope you'll be able to find one that can get delivered to where you are. Good luck with your project!
I have very limited musical knowledge, but since C flat is the same as a B natural, is there an advantage to having a pedal that can change the C string, to a B, as well as having a B string? (Same for F down to E). I hope this question makes sense.
Not a harp player here, but to answer in general music theory terms: an example would be playing in a key like Eb minor - the notes you’d want for the harmonic minor scale would be Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb. Here we want to use both Bb and Cb (B natural) so the easiest way to do this would be tuning down the C note This gets even more interesting if you consider the enharmonic equivalent D# minor, where the scale is D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B, C##, D#. On a piano it may look like you’re playing a D natural, but technically the raised 7th of the scale becomes C## (C double sharp). Hope that helps!
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You won't be really able to do trills using 2 different notes requiring the same string (so not G-G#, or F-F# as that requires pedal move for each change) but definitely possible when you get the right setting using two different strings (like G - A flat, or F - G flat).
@@CoffeeBreakHarp That makes sense. The mechanism in the pedal harp is fascinating. I can see how this would have made key changes and playing in multiple keys possible, rather than a simple lyre. :)
I'm studing orchestration and this video was so great to understand this instrument. Thank you very much!
same, studying how harp works so that my composition is not bullshit🤣🤣🤣
Same here!
My band director asked me if I would be interested in learning harp for a competition piece. Definitely stressful for a very average high school percussionist. I have seen so many videos about the basics of harp but this one is the most helpful by far. Explained in a way that is easy for everyone to understand, whether they are a musician or not. Thank you for making such an informative video :)
Excellent. For composers, an easy way to memorize the pedals is Did Columbus Bring Enough Food To Go to America. Or DCB left - EFGA right.
I'm not even interested in playing a harp, but I saw a pedal harp on another video and wanted to know how that works - and you have explained it perfectly! Thank you very much! :)
I am really glad you found it helpful! Thank you very much for taking the time to leave your kind comment 💛
I'm getting into composition and studying different instruments, and I loved this video! I see a lot of music channels where it almost feels like your instrument is a status symbol. While a lot of those professionals compare price tags and make beginners feel guilty for buying something too 'cheap' or 'advanced' for them, you encourage people to start on whatever instrument, in whatever capacity, they want or can. We need more of that in the music world. I don't play harp, but if I ever do, this is the first channel I'm going to! 😊💛 Thank you!
Thanks, i dont have one . But i can learn so much from your video, thanks for sharing
Fascinating. You explain it so well.
OMG...I didn't know...thats mindblowing, thanks for the the very good explanation
Very beginner friendly, yet in-depth explanation. Thank you.
Trombone player here. I've always wondered what the deal with harp pedals is. Many thanks for this great explanation!
This is very helpful thank you
thank you for the great explanatio!
I wish I hadn't seen this. You've removed most of the mystery and almost made it dangerously accessible. Now I'll be watching Craigslist and estate sales hoping to find a used pedal harp.
It's got similarities to the chromatic harmonica in that you can get 3 notes out of each string, where in a harmonica, you can get 3 or 4 notes out of each hole. It's got to be great for the brain.
Wonderful!
Very well explained.
This video is amazing thank you! Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you! 💛
Thank you for this information have a blessed day.
Thanks so much. Your video is clearly sequenced and easy for me to understand. I have just started learning some pieces in b/# keys so now I can try out the pedals properly!
Thank you for your kind comment, and how exciting you get to try out the pedals very soon! Do let us know how it goes!
Thank you so much for the insight, this was very instructive. I'm a pianist, but the harp always has been an instrument that fascinates me. Despite the all the great explanations though, I still can't help but ask myself why there has to be so many pedals, and why they each have to change the pitch of the strings 3 different ways. Enharmonic equivalents exist, so the mechanism seems so much more complex to me than it really needs to be, at least to me. If you only had 5 pedals instead of 7, with each pedal altering the pitch only 2 different ways instead of 3, you'd still have access to all the chromatic notes ! Instead of moving the pedal to reach C-flat, why not just pluck the B string ? I'm assuming all of this might have something to do with the key you're in, but I'd still love to see you go in depth in this topic ! Thanks for the awesome videos.
Thank you, very useful video.
Amazing explanation! Thank u very much, regards from Spain
Aw, thank you for your kind words! Greetings from Scotland!
I want one of those they sound very beautiful and they're very beautiful
Thank you for sharing. Have a great day
Thank you very much! 💛
Really helpful, thank you so much!
You're very welcome!
Harp is pretty much off of my radar in my day to day life, but I love the sound of it. Always wondered what the story with the pedals are. Appreciate that you took the time to make this video.
The inner workings of a harp like this must be pretty complex.
I assume that you have to tune the pedals too? To make sure that the pins move just the right amount?
Hi! Nice video! I found this on a book:
"I should point out that the disk mechanism of the 47-string pedal harp typically does not extend to the high G and the contrabass D and C. (In fact, the lowest two bass strings on any size pedal harp do not have a disk mechanism.) These strings must be manually retuned and the harpist must stand to do it. Therefore, the composer should consider these strings to be permanently fixed in pitch in the natural position, not capable of any semitone alteration."
Is this affirmation true?
Yes, that’s correct!
Great video, is it possible to do a video showing your pedal technique thanks
Thank you! A while ago I created a blog post about pedal technique, where I've included a small video snippet of my pedal work: www.zuzanna-harpist.com/7-steps-making-pedals-secure/ Could you please let me know if there's any particular aspect of pedal technique you would like to know more about? Is it just the very moment of moving a pedal, or something else around this topic?
I always wanted to play the harp (I play piano, organ and strings) One day...
That thing looks so beautiful I want one you know where I can buy a pedal harp or at least a petite pedal herp because I want one
Thanku for the wonderful video!
I'm thinking of building myself a pedalharp... Would you possibly be able to point me to any resources on the topic?
Hello and thank you for your comment! I'd perhaps check out first one of the build-your-own-harp kits for lap harps, just to start with an easier challenge and get to know how the strings and the soundboard make the sound. There are quite a few around these days so I hope you'll be able to find one that can get delivered to where you are. Good luck with your project!
Thanku!
I have very limited musical knowledge, but since C flat is the same as a B natural, is there an advantage to having a pedal that can change the C string, to a B, as well as having a B string? (Same for F down to E). I hope this question makes sense.
Not a harp player here, but to answer in general music theory terms:
an example would be playing in a key like Eb minor - the notes you’d want for the harmonic minor scale would be Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb. Here we want to use both Bb and Cb (B natural) so the easiest way to do this would be tuning down the C note
This gets even more interesting if you consider the enharmonic equivalent D# minor, where the scale is D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B, C##, D#. On a piano it may look like you’re playing a D natural, but technically the raised 7th of the scale becomes C## (C double sharp). Hope that helps!
Have you seen my FREE video-training for harpists who want to read music with more confidence and have more freedom in learning new pieces? Sign up to get it directly to your inbox! subscribepage.com/readingmusic
So are semi-tone trills out of the question? Or is there a work around?
You won't be really able to do trills using 2 different notes requiring the same string (so not G-G#, or F-F# as that requires pedal move for each change) but definitely possible when you get the right setting using two different strings (like G - A flat, or F - G flat).
@@CoffeeBreakHarp That makes sense. The mechanism in the pedal harp is fascinating. I can see how this would have made key changes and playing in multiple keys possible, rather than a simple lyre. :)
chromatic scales must me a bitch
trigger alert: people with size issues