Just fooling around once, I discovered that once my hand learned where the strings were, it didn't matter what I had in my hand - it knew instantly. I grabbed a teaspoon one night just for fun, and the harp sounded like a hammer dulcimer. Try it!
I've noticed so many autoharps on You Tube out of tune,I thought I'd show how I tune. It might help somebody. Tune often, and you'll have an easier time of it. I couldn't show the whole sequence, as they only allow ten minutes, but you should get the idea. Problems, contact me. Good luck!
After the basic tuning with the tuning pins, I switch to my fine tuners to hone the notes in where I want them. Some like the upper notes a bit sharp, lower notes a bit flat, but I like them where they always are at zero. Use the fine tuners each time you play, and it saves on the big pins coming loose, and you'll find it much easier to tune. Have fun!
Homer Welty designed this autoharp to be played on a table. 54" long, and 17 1/2" wide, it hangs over my folding table. It is tuned to just intonation. I don't know what that means, other than it has a beautiful, haunting sound. I have some other harps by Homer, who passed on last year, and I will get them on soon. I am playing "Down in the Valley"
This is a good example of what is called, "open noting", caused by picking out notes while the chord bars are up, instead of down. Watch the fingers on the buttons.
Trying out my new d'Aigle harp. It's a pentatonic harp, but I haven't figured that part out yet. My wife bought it for me at the Arizona Autoharp Festival, in Phoenix, Arizona two weeks ago.
![Autoharp - Jackie\](http://img.youtube.com/vi/g94CMxXBgLM/2.jpg "Autoharp - Jackie\")
