Distance between adjacent strings…

[William Rinatti]

Hello. I’m taking a survey. Can any of you pedal harpists tell me the distance in millimeters between your…

• top F and G string?
• middle C and D string?
• bottom C and D string?

Much appreciated if you can. Thanks.

[cecioboe]

I have a Daphne 40 so not quite that range but here are my measurements:

• Top D-E 13 mm
• Middle C-D 13 mm
• Low A-B 15 mm

Interesting question. I played my friend’s Venus Prodigy for a few days and couldn’t figure out why I was buzzing so much. I measured the distances between the strings and found they were quit a bit closer together, especially at the top.

[charles-nix]

Will get you measurements on my Swanson–actually measured it last night, but left them at home. Do note that you may find unusual differences in the F-G distance depending on how people measure. Some, maybe most, pedal harps “fan” out in the last 2-3 strings to get a little more room for fingers, and a little more straight pull on the sound board. Mine is several mm closer near the action than near the soundboard.

[balfour-knight]

William, I have not meant to be “silent” on this post, but I have no tools to measure in metric. I could give you the measurements in inches, if you would like, but on my French Camac Atlantide Prestige, like Charles said about other harps, the strings fan out. In the bass, they are closer together near the soundboard, becoming farther apart at the string nuts at the top of the harp; and in the high treble, they are the opposite–they are farther apart at the soundboard, becoming closer together at the top string nuts. This is done to make the harp more comfortable and ergonomic to play. Once one is used to this arrangement, it is difficult to play other harps with the same degree of ease! Pedal harp, or concert, string spacing means that the strings are spaced gradually closer together as you go up the scale of the harp.

My best to you,
Balfour

[charles-nix]

Swanson Empire
0f-00g. 12 mm where finger plays
4c-4d. 14 mm
7c-7d. 17 mm

The extra space is needed in the bass to give the strings room without hitting each other. Being tighter in the middle and upper allows the harp to be small enough for normal people to reach the bass

[balfour-knight]

I am reviving this thread since there is good information here about the spacing of pedal harp strings. On William’s new thread “Finger spans in 3- and 4-note chords” there is a discussion about string spacing, depending on which range you are playing in on the harp.

Have a great day,
Balfour

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