Harping on

[seahorse]

It has come at last, my harp that is! Now I have to learn to play it. I managed to tune it using my accordion and can knock out greensleeves and old macdonald already. My new project for the year now is to learn to read music. I really need a teacher but dont think there is one on the island.,it will have to be u tube until i find one! All I can say is, good job the walls are thick in this house

[Babycakes]

Wow that is so cool!! I hope you find a teacher soon.

[stace]

How lovely , not heard one of those for years!


Good luck!

Stace

[p.penn]

Is it a proper full size harp?

They look quite hard to play but do sound so lovely.

[Meg]

I could listen to harp music all day...it's a lovely instrument. Good luck in learning how to play and with the music reading. I wouldn't know where to start

[seahorse]

My harp is the celtic variety with just 22 strings. The big concert ones have about 46 strings (I think) They cost thousands!!! mine was the cheapest one that had 22 strings and levers which tighten the strings to a sharp note, like the black notes on piano. (ok it's getting technical). It would be very versatile if I could read music, but up to now Im using mostly my left hand to pick out tunes, using a cd as background music to join in. It needs tuning each day until it develops a good tone...again, I have had to research this as I dont want to ruin it with over tight strings. It does sound lovely even though Im only tinkering. Not like the violin which in my hands sounds like Im using a chainsaw Practice practice practice!!!
I intend to take it out when we go for picnics, as it is quite a portable size, should sound even better in the great outdoors.

[Meg]

How is it going Seahorse?

[seahorse]

The harp training is coming along nicely, it is a lovely instrument and it's hard to make it sound awful!! I bought a digital tuner thingy , so keeping it tuned up is easier now. I asked around and got an email address of a lady at the local folk club, she may know someone who might teach me, waiting with baited breath now. Until then, I will just keep practicing and doing it my way (left handed). Unfortunately, I cant plug ear phones into it... so my musical atempts can be heard throughout the house

[Meg]

I'm sure the family all love the sound of the harp though don't they? Or are they fed up with hearing it by now Good luck with the teacher, hope she will tutor you to help you learn. Then you can make a utube video for us to watch

[seahorse]

Meg, I only have a hubby and cat to play to thank goodness! I dont think utube is quite ready for me yet but I will keep plucking away until something musical comes out