folk harp range – 6th A and B

[deb-l]

Why do so few folk harps have the 6th A and B?

[kreig-kitts]

Blevins also makes 38 and 40 string harps.

I imagine not enough folk harp players want the extra notes enough for makers to make more harps with them. Also, many people play the folk harp because it’s portable and affordable, and making the harp larger does neither of these things. At least for me,

[deb-l]

are you thinking of getting a small pedal harp someday Krieg?

[kreig-kitts]

If I get a pedal harp, I’ll probably trade my lever harp for a smaller, very portable one I could take on transit or carry easily while walking, in the 22-26 string range. With a living space of just over 600 square feet, I can’t keep a second floor harp around unless I give up the sofa (no, I’m not giving up the sofa!).

[Seoid OC]

My harp goes down to the low C and doesn’t have the lower A or B and for me the range is perfect.

[harpglo-jean]

Ditto!

[deb-l]

up until recently I haven’t missed those two strings but now I have a slew of music that needs them.

[KJS]

When I was ordering my Pratt Chamber Harp, I almost considered his “Empress” because it has 38 strings (the low A and low B) while the Chamber Harp stops at the C. I spoke with my harp teacher about my conundrum and with her 23+ years experience told me to forget the low A and B, that I would rarely need them or use them and that she never uses them other than when playing her pedal harp at which time of course, she has 47. This really helped me because I prefer the look and feel of the Chamber but found myself “string greedy” for a couple of days. I am not regretting that decision one bit. However, if you MUST have those two strings, check out the Pratt Empress.

[deb-l]

Karen, I have some books that say they are for lever or pedal harp but they often use low A and B.

[barbara-brundage]

Check again for Clair, Deb. It only goes down to the C. I have a couple of pieces that have options for using the higher D and E if you have them, but nothing I’ve arranged requires more than the usual 36 string C to C range.

[deb-l]

oh your right!

[deb-l]

I just checked Melody’s music and you’ve done lots of arrangements that look very interesting and challenging that don’t require the A and B strings.

[deb-l]

Nataliana and Nightengale both switch to treble cleff too, Natliana just has one low A for the very last note so that can be got around.

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