Frequently-Asked Questions
How hard is it to play the harp?
The simplest songs sound beautiful on the harp. Yes, even mistakes sound good on this very calming instrument. The red strings are Cs and the blue (dark) strings are Fs (View photo) which makes finding the notes fairly easy. The harp is no harder to play than any other musical instrument. Harp sheet music looks very similar to piano/keyboard sheet music.
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If you are one of the blessed people in the world that has a great ear for music, you just need a tuning wrench. If you are like the rest of us, an electronic tuner makes tuning a harp so much easier. The cost for a good chromatic tuner is $25 - $40, at any music store.
How hard is it to replace a broken string?
Replacing a harp string is as easy as replacing a broken string on any instrument (guitar, violin, cello). There are instructions in most beginner harp books. It is best to have an extra set of strings for your harp. A broken string doesn't happen very often but when it does it can take a while to order a replacement. (View photo)
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Levers allow you to play sharps and flats (black notes on the piano) without taking the time to re-tune desired strings. The levers shorten the length of the string to raise the pitch by a half-step. Levers can only be installed after the harp is completely finished and strung.
Is there a difference in the sound between a walnut harp and a maple harp? (View photo)
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Many people believe that the walnut wood provides a more mellow sound while the eastern maple provides a brighter sound. We have found that every harp has its own voice, no matter what the wood.
What size is best for a child to play?
If the child is in elementary school, the smaller harps (25 string or 29 string) would be better due to the height and weight of the harp and the length of the child's arms. You can place a smaller harp on a plastic storage container to increase the height as the child grows. We do make extended legs for the 25 string harp at an additional cost.
What size is best for an older child or adult?
This is a personal decision. There was one woman who was 6' 2" and all she wanted was a 25 string harp, which she used as a lap harp. I have had customers that were barely 5' tall and they wanted the biggest harp they could purchase. There are many ways to adjust the height of either the harp or the harp player to a comfortable position.
Most people who have played the piano/keyboard want a larger harp with two Cs below Middle C. This is because they are accustomed to a fuller bass range of music.
Not at this time.
Do you build with any other woods besides walnut or eastern maple?
Not at this time.
To start the construction of a Comfort Harp you will need to send a $500 deposit for a 35 string harp or a $350 deposit for a 25 string harp. This deposit is non-refundable. The remainder of the cost will be paid upon delivery of the harp. Occasionally, we have a harp that is already finished and looking for a home; in this case we require payment-in-full. Please contact us for more details.
Are the harps covered by a warranty?
All of our instruments have a two year warranty from the date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship to the original owner. If there is a problem that is covered under the warranty we will repair the instrument at no charge. Shipping costs to and from Comfort Harps are the responsibility of the owner.
35 String Harp (Vibrato) | 25 String Harp (Sonatina)
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