Types of Harps

Cross-strung harps have two sets of strings, one attached to each side of the neck of the harp, with the rows of strings intersect between the neck and the sound box like an X. The set which runs from the lower left to the upper right (8:00 to 2:00 if you imagine a clock face) is tuned to a diatonic C major scale, like the white keys of a piano: C D E F G A B.

The contemporary double-strung harp is an increasingly popular instrument in the harp world. Many styles of music can be played on this versatile harp, and it comes in many sizes from lap-sized to large.

Pedal Harps Edit Large, often elegant, harps seen in professional symphonies and orchestras. This type of harp uses pedals to enable the playing of sharps and flats. It is strung with steel, gut, and/or nylon strings.

More About Wire Harps » Cross-Strung Harps Edit. These harps feature two courses of strings, allowing for playing sharps or flats without levers or pedals. The strings cross over each other, but do not touch. Double Harp Edit. The Double Strung Harp is a harp with two parallel rows of strings that are tuned diatonic - the same pitch.

Concert harps on the other hand are fully chromatic and can access the full range of keys. This is done by using pedals located at the bottom rear of the harp. This allows harpists to change keys and use accidentals in the middle of pieces. Concert harps can play full the full classical repertoire.

More About Wire Harps » Cross-Strung Harps Edit. These harps feature two courses of strings, allowing for playing sharps or flats without levers or pedals. The strings cross over each other, but do not touch. Double Harp Edit. The Double Strung Harp is a harp with two parallel rows of strings that are tuned diatonic - the same pitch.

The triple harp is a type of multi-course harp employing three parallel rows of strings instead of the more common single row. One common version is the Welsh triple harp, used today mainly among players of traditional Welsh folk music.

I often think of the wire-strung harp as a non-identical twin to the folk harp ... Wire Harp vs. Nylon/Gut Harps. Edit. ... Wire Strung Myths Edit.