Celtic Lap Harps

[Magdalene]

Hi Everyone, I have the opportunity to purchase a 19 string celtic lap harp. Can anyone advise me what I should be checking before purchasing and any good resource for self teaching? I learned classical piano into my teens and can read music. I have always loved the harp and the offer seems heaven sent as I embark on the Bardic Course !!

[Corwen]

Where/who are you buying it from? Can you show us a picture?

[Magdalene]

Hi Corwen,
It is owned by an aquaintenance of a friend who lives in Cornwall. It was bought but little used, I do not have a picture yet but hope to go down in April so would appreciate any help & advice before then - I am not sure if I should be describing it as a "knee harp" rather than a lap harp.....

[Corwen]

There are quite a lot of harps (maybe the majority) that you shouldn't touch with a bargepole! Any of the harps made in Pakistan or China are not worth buying except as ornaments. These are often sold through Ebay though even the Early Music Shop and Hobgoblin sell this type. They are recognisable as they are generally made from rosewood or other dark reddish brown tropical hardwoods and often have inlaid wire decoration or carvings of knotwork, flowers etc. They often have weird strings, the F and C strings (which are coloured) in the wrong places, or the whole thing strung with guitar strings or even metal strings, which is fatal for a harp designed for gut/nylon. If you see a harp like this, don't buy it.

There are some good mass produced harps, those made by Camac or Rees (the harpsicle brand) are good and reasonably priced and often come up secondhand.

Things to look out for: cracks are the most obvious problem. Cracks anywhere near the tuning pins are generally fatal. Cracks elsewhere are bad. Cracks in the soundboard may not be so bad, if the soundboard is plywood the topmost layer often develops cracks and these are no problem, though cracks in a solid wood soundboard are bad news. Check that all the tuning pegs feel relatively and evenly tight when you turn them and the strings hold their tuning, that the pegs, wrest pins, semitone levers are lined up properly (no crooked levers, pins at odd angles etc.).

Check that the joins between the parts are properly located. Harps do by their nature pull off centre so some asymmetry is not a problem.

I'm sure harpists will have more points to mention, but I am not as harpist so I can only think of the obvious points that you'd look at for any instrument.

[skh]

I play the harp, and Corwen has mentioned the most important points, I'm just reiterating with a bit more detail.

The thing with Pakistani (China too these days?) harps is not that they are a bit cheaper and not as well made, but that they are some times literally unplayable. It is not snobbism that makes us warn beginners to stay away from them -- people put so much hope and dreams into a new instrument, and to end up with a wall decoration is just cruel.

That said, some of them are playable. When you have a chance to inspect the harp, and it has the outer characteristics of a Pakistan-made instrument (as Corwen described above):

Tune it (or have it tuned), and listen if any string has the tendency to drop down in pitch immediately after tuning -- this obviously shouldn't happen.

Check each string if it buzzes, play it soft, play it loud. Did it change pitch just from playing? (Shouldn't happen.)

Does it have sharpening levers? Check every one of them: does it actually sharpen the pitch by a semitone? Not roughly, but rather exactly a semitone? If you don't hear this, take someone with you who does. Does the string with the lever set still sound good? Does it buzz now?

Is any of the metal parts of the harp loose? They shouldn't move (other than the levers themselves of course, in their intended direction of movement). Any loose parts buzz or kill sound.

Is the harp still in tune? It really shouldn't need to be tuned more often than once a day if temperature / humidity don't change.

Inspect the wood. Cracks anywhere are bad. Some cracks in the soundboard might not be too bad, if they are parallel to the grain, and if the grain itself runs perpendicular to the strings. If in doubt, feel free to send pictures. (I would be careful about cracks in plywood too.)

If you really like to play the harp, it is possible to fall in love even with an unplayable instrument. Try to stay objective

19 strings isn't much, and here in Germany I think the only 19-string harps you can buy are Pakistanis, the local makers don't build them. BUT: I believe several american harp makers also build these small lap harps, and I've seen sheet music specifically arranged for them. So beware, but it is possible that it's just a decent small harp waiting for you.

If you have pictures, it's probably possible to identify the maker. Maybe your friend's acquaintance could send you some?

peace /|\
Sonja

[skh]

And for starting out: old but still good is Sylvia Woods' "Teach yourself to play the folk harp". There's an optional DVD available too. You can buy it here: http://www.harpcenter.com/ but if you can find it from a shop in the UK you'll spare yourself much hassle with customs.

Also, if there are folk workshop weeks or summer schools somewhere in your area, it might be helpful to visit a beginner class to get started. It's perfectly possible to learn to play the harp on your own, but meeting other players and having access to a real teacher now and then can be a great motivator.

peace /|\
Sonja

[Magdalene]

Hi everyone, many thanks for your advice and guidance. I must apologise for the late reply, I have been away from home.......I have discovered that the harp is a foreign make sold as a "pixie" model and so have decided to wait a while so that I can purchase a more reputable brand. I researched the Internet and found Sylvia Wood's site, which has some very good basic videos showing how to tune the harp and fingering correctly. I will definitely buy her book/ DVD package when I finally purchase a harp.

Also many thanks to skh for the in-depth advice regarding what to check for before purchasing, and I will do some research for a local harp tutor.

Love and Peace
Magdalene

[katie bridgewater]

I have a small harpsicle which I would recommend as a good quality, reliable and not too expensive model for a beginner.
http://harpsicleharps.com/harps.htm

I have the basic harpsicle which is the best value. I haven't missed tuning levers, but you can pay a bit more for a model which has them. (Mine cost around £180 including import duty but it all depends on the exchange rate, so waiting for the right moment to get one is a good plan.) I can still play in any key, and can retune quickly. When I need to modulate in a piece I tune the harp differently across the octaves and no-one has complained after my gigs! There's a lot of snobbery about harps and levers, but simple is IMO the most beautiful and the oldest tunes usually stay within a very small compass of notes, without modulation.

[skh]

Yes, harpsicle harps! I have only heard good things about them, but I haven't had the chance to see / touch / play one yet.

peace /|\
Sonja

[Corwen]

They don't look very traditional, but its fine if you are happy with an instrument that looks modern. They mic up well as the smaller soundbox eliminates most issues with feedback, they are as loud or louder than equivalent cheap harps and with a much nicer tone than even the better quality Chinese/Pakistani ones. We have a black one which looks nice with the sort of modern shape, I've heard that in the flesh the nicest colours are the black and the blue.

[Brigantia]

There is the Cornwall Harp Center....you might want them to take a look at the harp to be sure that it's structurally sound.

[Cosmic Ash]

Has anyone had any experience with telynau teifi harps?
I've fancied a harpsicle for a long time now, but I'm thinking I'd like to support a more local company. Looking at telnyau teifi's website they make a small 20 string harp called the dryw bach. It's not as elegant as a harpsicle - kind of looks like a toy from the 70s, but if it plays well looks aren't everything..

[skh]

Cosmic Ash,

I've never heard of them (which doesn't mean anything), but if the information on their "About us" page is correct and the harps are built by a trained harp maker, they will be most likely well-built and it is just a matter of personal taste which ones you like and don't like. 20 strings, though, isn't much. If you can afford it, I'd recommend 26 strings or more -- it may sound a bit thin if you only have the upper octaves.

Another harp maker (who I do know! and met something like -- eeks -- 15 years ago) nearer to you than Harpsicle Inc. might be http://www.starfishdesigns.co.uk/ . I liked their harps very much back then.

Edinburgh has a harp festival next week (and every year in spring): http://www.harpfestival.co.uk/ , and they have a harpmakers exhibition. Such exhibitions are really, really helpful because harpmakers travel there instead of you driving through the whole country to see and play harps from each of them.

There may well be other harp events with instrument makers' exhibitions in the UK, I just don't know them. I could tell you a few in germany but that wouldn't help you I assume.

peace /|\
Sonja

[Cosmic Ash]

Hi Sonja,
thanks for your reply.
I did think that 20 strings might just not quite be enough. Those starfish harps look nice, but are a bit out of my budget at the moment. Hmmm!
The harpsicle and the dryw bach are about the same price but if those 6 strings are going to make all the difference...

[Corwen]

There is always the second hand option. If you are patient a harpsicle or small Camac harp will come up on Ebay eventually.

[Cosmic Ash]

I have been keeping an eye on ebay. I've not seen a harpsicle there yet, but you'd think they would appear occasionally.

[worldmusicharp]

That depends on numerous factors, together with what type of music you want to play and how much you want to carry the harp around. If you are stern about playing the harp, you will want to purchase a harp that is well-made, that sounds beautiful to your own ear, and that will perfectly go with the kinds of music you most want to play. Even better, the harp will grow with you as you learn.

The internet has deeply increased your ability to explore and buy harps even if you live in a remote location. But just as with anything you purchase, you should bear in mind that buying a Celtic harp online is not without risks. There are bounties of very cheap harps accessible that look much prettier than they sound. Some of them have been recognized to include impracticable levers and most of them do not hold their tune - a real difficulty for anyone, but especially for a beginner.

I know someone who can help you out dealing with how you will choose your instrument. You can ask the harpist regarding this matter at http://www.dianarowan.com since I know she can really help you with harp.

[Cosmic Ash]

Thank you, worldmusicharp,
I actually ordered the Dryw Bach in the finish. It's a nice little harp, I bought it through The Litle Welsh Shop online who were very helpful. I do miss those extra few string and the levers. I attended a beginners workshop (harps provided at this one) with a local harp group and found I wouldn't be able to attend any of their other events with it which was a little disappointing. However I only wanted to learn for my own amusement and I had a tight budget, and I am actually very happy with my new little friend.

[worldmusicharp]

You're welcome Cosmic Ash.

Great that you are happy with your little nice harp. I' hope and believe that you would be a great musician someday.

Enjoy with your new harp cosmic ash=)

If you would meet Diana Rowan, you will find how good harp teacher she is.

Have a great day