hello new to group

[deb-l]

hi, I’ve played harp on and off for 5 years.

[deb-l]

sorry meant C is lowest string not G.

[jessica-wolff]

Yes, you can, if they are actually songs, as in Irish folk songs. You will just need to simplify the arrangement, maybe change the key.

[deb-l]

yes that makes sense I guess, I have concerns though about having only a small harp and playing the full arrangements I used to play, I may be dissatisfied with it.

[Audrey Nickel]

Do bear in mind that wire harp is played radically differently from lever harp.

[deb-l]

that looks like a great book, thank you! does it have arrangements for larger harps or small though?

[Audrey Nickel]

Levers will dampen the tone, somewhat, yes…how much depends on the levers and the harp, but they will make a difference…and a more noticeable one on wire than on nylon.

[deb-l]

Audrey, thanks so much for all the great info and help!

[Audrey Nickel]

The nice thing is, you don’t need HUGE fingernails.

[Karen Johns]

I have a small wire harp, specifically a 26 string Limerick, and I play it exactly the same way as my larger lever harp. Changing the technique you have already learned is not necessary unless you are set on playing wire harp in the traditional manner.

[Asha the Nagini]

Welcome!

[deb-l]

Audrey, I will pick up Sally Hanson nail mender.

[Audrey Nickel]

I really, really, strongly recommend you learn proper wire technique…if you want to sound like Cynthia Cathcart, Chris Caswell or Patrick Bell, it’s essential.

[deb-l]

now your reminding me of the reason I always end up picking nylon/gut harps when I rent, because wire sound complicated and unrelaxed.

[Karen Johns]

Let’s just make a small distinction here- about “proper” wire technique. By whose definition? The ancient bards of Ireland? Since they are not with us, I would refer to the fact there are three methods to play wire harp- the classical harp method, the coupled hands or Heymann method, and the traditional Cathcart/Caswell/Bell(?)

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