I’m 67 years old and a professional pianist/accompanist working at a middle school. I assist with two hours of band each day and, in order to help my 6th graders I, at the age of 67, am learning the trombone!! Played my ‘first’ band concert the week of Thanksgiving. Today, 12-10-24, the band director handed me an autoharp from 1961. My son, an audio engineer with a recording studio and piano tuner, has tuned it so now the challenge to play and sing a song by next week! By the way it is an Oscar Schmidt. 38 string. So thank you!!!
Russ thank you. I’m an absolute beginner. I’m buying my first one tomorrow and appreciate that you’re calm, patient, and easy to understand teaching. I’m so grateful you are doing this. Thank you.
I have been visualizing playing some instrument - hope the autoharp will be the one - seems easy, which is what I need as a distracted senior. I keep telling my nervous system 'I can easily focus on learning music', which I truely love. Thanks and get a hat that doesn't itch your forehead !
That was very helpful, thank you. I bought an Oscar Schmidt 15 chord earlier today and (quite by chance) was doing exactly what you said when I was tuning it - sliding my finger along to make sure I hadn't got lost . Thanks for the Bob Dylan tip - I was looking for songs I might know, and I'm an old Dylan fan.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ve been thinking about getting an autoharp. I love your calm teaching voice. And I think you have a lovely voice. 😊
Thanks for the the video Russ! I made an impulse purchase and I now have two autoharps coming in and this has really helped me prepare for what's to come
Great instructions. I can understand that eventually you will play melodies I watched your hands closely and I can hear the melody , which you do lovely but can't figure out how you are doing it ha ha.. patience I guess it will come. Thanks so much.Good tip on the broken string issue. Did that the first time I tuned my guitar ha ha ..scared the pants off me
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your voice and demeanor draws one in to listen attentively. I appreciate learning about the use of the chords and tuning the strings. Can you share where you purchased the tools to tune the autoharp, and would you suggest that anyone with the tools can tune it? Again, thank you.
Anyone can learn to tune it, and a well tuned harp is the key to enjoying the autoharp. If it’s not in tune, you feel defeated even before you start. Go to Amazon and buy a Snark brand chromatic tuner or any chromatic tuner. Just make sure you are on the correct string that you are turning the T wrench on. Otherwise, you will break a string!
I picked up an Oscar Smith at a garage sale for 40 bucks, and thought about selling it. I stopped playing the guitar a long time ago and have thought about getting back into it. This harp came into my life and I have the urge to learn.
Thinking of purchasing an autoharp. Is it worth it to learn how to play? And tuning it looks a little scary. Would it be worth it to buy and learn? Looks relatively easy but is that because you know what you’re doing? It sounded good. Thank you!!!
@@larrainemoore1880 it is one of the easiest instruments to learn to play. Admittedly, tuning 36 strings is a challenge but anything in life that is valuable is worth the risk. I say go fo it, but search the youtube videos on how to buy an autoharp. There are some good videos on this .
@@hopelessromantic8682 it may need a new set of strings? Especially if they are corroded or covered with finger oils. It is possible that the pads are worn on the chord bars. Join one of the autoharp groups on facebook and there are lots of knowledgeable folks that can help you out
Hi Russ, I'm really interested in getting an autoharp. I had one years ago and really enjoyed it. One of my questions is Chromaharp or Autoharp? Second question ... What's the best option, New or used? I can't afford to buy a custom harp.
Thanks for taking the time. You need to talk a little louder. Also amazing Grace is a little more advanced than this absolute beginner can do. I'm trying tho!!
I’m 67 years old and a professional pianist/accompanist working at a middle school. I assist with two hours of band each day and, in order to help my 6th graders I, at the age of 67, am learning the trombone!! Played my ‘first’ band concert the week of Thanksgiving. Today, 12-10-24, the band director handed me an autoharp from 1961. My son, an audio engineer with a recording studio and piano tuner, has tuned it so now the challenge to play and sing a song by next week! By the way it is an Oscar Schmidt. 38 string. So thank you!!!
@@JoanBrown-j3e awesome ! You will do fine! Congrats!
Russ thank you. I’m an absolute beginner. I’m buying my first one tomorrow and appreciate that you’re calm, patient, and easy to understand teaching. I’m so grateful you are doing this. Thank you.
Thats great ! Good luck! Persistence is the key
You're excellent at detailing how to go about getting a handle at playing. Also you have such a nice calm manner of speaking you must present often!
“I can’t sing very well” continues to have a beautiful singing voice
Best tutorial for a beginner ever! You make learning fun 🤩 thank you 🙏🏽
Thanks!
I’m glad you are here for us harpies😊
I have been visualizing playing some instrument - hope the autoharp will be the one - seems easy, which is what I need
as a distracted senior. I keep telling my nervous system 'I can easily focus on learning music', which I truely love. Thanks and
get a hat that doesn't itch your forehead !
Thanks much - just got my first auto harp and was playing along with you!
That was very helpful, thank you. I bought an Oscar Schmidt 15 chord earlier today and (quite by chance) was doing exactly what you said when I was tuning it - sliding my finger along to make sure I hadn't got lost . Thanks for the Bob Dylan tip - I was looking for songs I might know, and I'm an old Dylan fan.
That’s great! Best of luck on your autoharp journey. My fav Dylan song is three chords, “ you aint goin nowhere” g , a-minor, c, thats it!
I enjoy hearing you sing.
@@leewarner8468 thank you
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ve been thinking about getting an autoharp. I love your calm teaching voice. And I think you have a lovely voice. 😊
You are so welcome! Go for it!
Just a great presentation. Very helpful to a newcomer to the autoharp which is challenging to say the least. Thank you so much. Well done.
Ty! I am so glad it is helpful.
Thanks for the the video Russ! I made an impulse purchase and I now have two autoharps coming in and this has really helped me prepare for what's to come
Great! Let me know if you have questions.
Such a sweet style of teaching. Thank you!
@@MirExodus15 ty very much!
Thanks. One became available to me. Off I go! Thanks again!
Awesome! Good luck!
Thanks Russ!!!
I am going to do this because of you!!!
Awesome!
Thanks for sharing!
It was useful thank you for taking the time to make this video!
@@PaulaGooden thank you!
GREAT video!! Thank you for this simple and straightforward explanation!!
ty!
Thank you very helpful
Glad it could help!
Hey Russ, great video!
Thanks! I am working on a follow up soon!
I’m going to give this a try. Thanks for sharing.
Have fun!
Just what was looking for!
Awesome thanks
This was a great tutorial! Thank you!
ty!
Great instructions. I can understand that eventually you will play melodies I watched your hands closely and I can hear the melody , which you do lovely but can't figure out how you are doing it ha ha.. patience I guess it will come. Thanks so much.Good tip on the broken string issue. Did that the first time I tuned my guitar ha ha ..scared the pants off me
Thanks! Just keep trying to do scales using I 4 5 chords. With gcd or cfg, ade , dga, eab, you can find the scale in those three chords
very helpful - thanks!!
Glad it was helpful!
Encantada, não conhecia esse instrumento
Gracias, el autoharp es un instrumento de America verdad.
great tutorial!
ty!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your voice and demeanor draws one in to listen attentively. I appreciate learning about the use of the chords and tuning the strings. Can you share where you purchased the tools to tune the autoharp, and would you suggest that anyone with the tools can tune it? Again, thank you.
Golden Gate DH-40 T-Shaped Tuning Hammer a.co/d/3cXQ37k
Anyone can learn to tune it, and a well tuned harp is the key to enjoying the autoharp. If it’s not in tune, you feel defeated even before you start. Go to Amazon and buy a Snark brand chromatic tuner or any chromatic tuner. Just make sure you are on the correct string that you are turning the T wrench on. Otherwise, you will break a string!
This was very helpful
so glad!
Volume was very low, but I love this video! Great presentation.
ty!
Thank you so much I really appreciate this!!
ty!
very nice
Thanks!
Thank you 🥰
Thank you
thank you for listening
Thank you for the tips. I’m learning everyday.
awesome!
Thankyou!
@@patwalsh5125 hope it helps!
I wonder if you could make a stretched autoharp that looks like a guitar. The buttons would be on the neck.
Interesting idea!
thank you very helpful! could you maybe write the chords of the song in the description
ty!
I like him.
I picked up an Oscar Smith at a garage sale for 40 bucks, and thought about selling it.
I stopped playing the guitar a long time ago and have thought about getting back into it. This harp came into my life and I have the urge to learn.
Oscar Schmidt*
It’s a great instrument to learn to play!
Thinking of purchasing an autoharp. Is it worth it to learn how to play? And tuning it looks a little scary. Would it be worth it to buy and learn? Looks relatively easy but is that because you know what you’re doing? It sounded good. Thank you!!!
@@larrainemoore1880 it is one of the easiest instruments to learn to play. Admittedly, tuning 36 strings is a challenge but anything in life that is valuable is worth the risk. I say go fo it, but search the youtube videos on how to buy an autoharp. There are some good videos on this .
You did blues 1,4,5 I play guitar
I have one of these but I need to buy a few strings. Any idea where I can buy them?
Any music store. You can look online or check out Amazon.
I have an old autoharp that a friend gave me. I tuned it but it sounds really terrible. What can I do to get it to sound better?
@@hopelessromantic8682 it may need a new set of strings? Especially if they are corroded or covered with finger oils. It is possible that the pads are worn on the chord bars. Join one of the autoharp groups on facebook and there are lots of knowledgeable folks that can help you out
thankyou, how long does it usually stay in tune for? i play violin with just 4 strings to tune!
Fortunately, I don’t need to tune it very often especially if it stays in my temp humidity controlled studio.
What key do you tune it in
Typically people tune using equal temperament.
Its a chromatic, i use a chromatic digital tuner to A 440
@@dobrodoc oh ok thank you
Hi Russ, I'm really interested in getting an autoharp. I had one years ago and really enjoyed it. One of my questions is Chromaharp or Autoharp?
Second question ... What's the best option,
New or used?
I can't afford to buy a custom harp.
autoharp!
Thanks for taking the time.
You need to talk a little louder.
Also amazing Grace is a little more advanced than this absolute beginner can do.
I'm trying tho!!
You can do it!
I was thinking about auto heart, but after watching you, I think a guitar would be easier
Imho, an autoharp is easier than guitar, but every one is different
You sound like Saul Goodman!
Is that good or bad?
@@dobrodoc it’s all good man! Erm the actor bob oddenkirk. He’s an amazing actor and comedian so definitely a plus.
@@Ash_Todd_ thanks!
Tyyyyyyy
ty!
You resemble the character Neiland in the TV series 'EVIL'.
Is that good?
I dont need a harp I need a lawyer!
Thank you
You're welcome