Check Out Alan's Diatonic Autoharp Conversion Tutorial:
Click Here to View Alan's Tutorial and Pictures
If you're considering converting your Oscar Schmidt Autoharp's chordbar setup and want to view the procedure step-by-step ... or if you want to apply a diatonic tuning to your autoharp ... or if you're just curious and want to see the work Alan did on his Oscar Schmidt 110-21 Ltd. Edition Autoharp ... it's all here.
Hear Alan Playing His Diatonic Oscar Schmidt Autoharp:
Cathy Beyer's Moody Blues 'Harp:
Need Strings for Your Autoharp?
JustStrings.com | Strings for Autoharps & Other Folk Instruments
Cool Autoharp Books:
Everything from Maintaining to Building an Autoharp
by Mary Lou Orthey
This is the book I treasure most. It contains absolutely everything imaginable about your autoharp ... and also has some very important info about converting or customizing your 'harp! Do yourself a favor and get a copy - you'll be amazed at how much is covered in this wonderful book! ~~Alan
by John Sebastian
John Sebastian provides a step-by-step learning guide to one of our most beautiful (and easiest) traditional instruments. He teaches the basics - how to hold the autoharp, elementary chord theory, tuning up, accompaniments to your favorite songs - then uses several melodies and instrumentals to demonstrate the fingerpicking techniques used by the great traditional players.
by Evo Bluestein
Evo Bluestein's highly regarded autoharp method is finally available in this Mel Bay publication. Part One includes basic music theory and details Evo's easy 4-step method. Part Two includes rhythm strumming instructions, melody chord changes, and lyrics to 18 well-known American folk songs and southern fiddle tunes in the keys of G, F, C major, and A modal (keys that are provided on standard 12, 15 and 21 bar harps). Also included are instructions for transposing to other keys. All songs are included on a solo performance CD for the purpose of ear training and accompaniment.
by Bonnie Phipps
"If you only buy one Autoharp Instruction Book, this is the one you need to get. It is very easy to understand. You will be playing in minutes. I have several Autoharp Instruction Manuals, but not one can compete with this book. Everthing you need to know, is located in the book. It's a great book and well worth waiting for." ~~solarvisions from Chesterfield, Virginia USA
by Meg Peterson
"I found Mel Bays Complete Method for Autoharp or Chromaharp to be an ideal book for learning to play the autoharp or chromaharp. It starts with the basics of how to read music and takes the reader through an understanding of the autoharp/chromaharp; how to tune it, how to develop various strumming styles and music styles and how to make adjustments to the instrument should the player desire to do so. This book contains well written text as well as photos, charts and illustrations. The photos and illustrations are clear and understandable, a definite help for those who learn better from seeing something done. The selection of music included offers a variety of styles and tastes and takes the learner beyond the beginner stage. Lessons also include some music theory. In my opinion, this is a must-have book for learning either the autoharp or the chromaharp." ~~A reader from Seoul, Korea
by Meg Peterson
by Karen Mueller
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Alan's Favorite Autoharp Links:
Here's a really cool article by songwriter / multi-instrumentalist, Harvey Reid, explaining the ways to amplify an autoharp. Reid talks about microphones and pickups ... he explains how he has his autoharp set up ... and more -- all in a concise and short read!
Marc Gunn has put together a great autoharp site! Not only is he a great songwriter and musician ... and not only does his site offer a bunch of really cool instructional stuff about autoharps ... but he's got a great radio station where you can listen to the best autoharp music on the web!
If you want to know more about chorded zithers, here's the place to go. Check out Orthey Instruments for some beautifully crafted instruments by popular luthiers! And of course, if you want to see Oscar Schmidt's fine line ... just [Click Here]
Your connection to the Autoharp community.
Here's a really cool site ... all about autoharps, and a whole lot more. Check out the Autoharp Tips eZine, too.
Buck built my custom chordbars for me, and what a wonderful artisan he is! Check out his autoharps, and if you need custom chordbars here's the place to get 'em!
Basic chords ... modal scales with principle chord sections ... basic alternate chords ... here's a chart you'll want to keep handy.
Just like it says!
Everything under the sun ... including Chromaharp and other hard-to-find strings.
Scroll down and check out the Twin Spots pickups!
A big gathering ... happens every June/July ... in Newport, Pennsylvania.
Mounts quickly and easily, with 2-sided tape ... $90.
I definitely want one of these! If you're looking for something truly different in an amplifier for your (with a pickup installed) autoharp, you have got to see this -- they are using a hardwood soundboard instead of a speaker! They claim that, sonically, it's the same as actually sitting in front of your own instrument and hearing yourself play. And, by the way, I really like that 7-Band Timbre Control ... like I said, this one's definitely on my Christmas List!
TablEdit is a program for creating, editing, printing and listening to tablature and sheet music (standard notation) for guitar and other fretted, stringed instruments. TablEdit has developed support for harmonica, mountain dulcimer, diatonic accordion, drums, violin, tin whistle, recorder, autoharp, pedal steel guitar, and banjo (even taking into consideration the special aspect of the fifth string) ... and can open/import ASCII, MIDI, ABC, Bucket O' Tab, Tabestry and Wayne Cripps files, as well as files created by earlier versions of TablEdit. Files can be saved in TablEdit format or exported to ASCII, ABC or MIDI formats.
If you're gonna be anywhere near Kansas this September, you won't want to miss this. They usually have around 13,000 folks show up ... all sorts of acoustic instruments ... and some big-name headliners too! All the info is here.
Pictures ... weather reports ... CDs ... and all the coolest links to everything WVF related.
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