Carbon fiber versus nylon strings?

[Gretchen Cover]

Harp playing is about flexibility and supple hands. The shoulders do most of the work. You are not grasping a bow or pressing fingers on the strings the way you do with a viola. One of the most important points l learned early on in harp lessons, is that if you have any pain or tension in your fingers, hands or forearms, it is due to technique that needs to be corrected immediately. What strings or harp you play won’t matter if you do not first learn to play correctly.

[Biagio]

Well said, Gretchen! To quote a well known harpist, “Play the harp in front of you.” Getting back to Robin’s original question:

It might be a good idea to start off with a Sharpsicle, or the Grand Harpsicle, which is light in tension, inexpensive, and easily resold, or kept as a travel instrument later. I’m not a big fan of Harpsicles in general, but they ARE a good low cost instrument.

Best of fortune to you Robin!

Biagio

[Biagio]

Returning to this thread….you might wish to take a look at the new Serrana 34 that Dusty Strings recently introduced:

https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/harps/browse-models/serrana-34

I don’t know what they mean exactly by “closer string spacing” but imagine it is perhaps half way between typical lever harp spacing and classical wire harp spacing: respectively about 13mm and 10mm. The tension however looks as though it will be very easy on your hands.

Some advantages over the Rees Grand Harpsicle: the Serrana is a floor sized harp and you would not be paying for an electro-acoustic, has a big voice without the electronics, and you would not have a 4 week wait while being assembled (probably). On the other hand, it costs more.

Best wishes,
Biagio

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