String noise when using pedals

[jaydg]

So – I’ve played a pedal harp for a whole 6 hours now 😉

I’m getting ‘string twang’ when using the pedals, especially going down.

Is this my inept pedal use (likely), in which case how do I avoid it? Maybe I’m moving the pedals too soon, I would with levers, but perhaps that’s wrong with pedals?

Or does something need adjusting.

Thank you for any help 🙂

[balfour-knight]

Hi, Jaydg,

Assuming that the Malvern is newly and properly regulated, the problem is probably caused by your “timing.” Experiment with sitting at the harp, not playing, and just move the pedals, to get used to the sounds they make when the discs engage the strings. You will need to learn to mute or “muffle” those strings, especially in the bass, which “twang” as the discs engage. Try, for example, the C pedal. Change it to natural and listen. Then go back to flat, place your LH thumb and fourth finger on 5C and 6C and change the pedal to natural. Hear the difference? (No need to mute 7C since it has no discs!) Just try exercises like this to find out what the pedals can do, and you will get used to it. To have “buzzless” harp playing requires great skill with timing, and muting those strings which are affected by pedal changes. I hope this helps a little!

Happy Malvern playing,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[jaydg]

It was regulated in the summer apparently, so probably all is well. It looks new, too.

Much more likely to be my timing, and your explanations help enormously – thank you very much 👍🏽😊

Now I know what I’m aiming to do – might take a long time before I am that co-ordinated 😅

[balfour-knight]

I forgot to say that when a string is already sounding (vibrating), the twang which occurs when you put down the pedal which affects that string is much greater, as you no doubt have found out. It is not as bad when the disc releases its grip on the string, going up with the pedal. Careful muting and timing will take care of this, but it does indeed take a lot of practice. Good luck, and keep on playing!

Happy Holidays,
Balfour

[jaydg]

Yes!

I just came to the chapter on ‘special effects’ in Yolanda Kondonassis’ book, and thought ‘what I need for now, is to learn NOT to do special effects’ 😅

I am learning to hide my pedal changes on the bass note of an arpeggio, when possible, and to mute the string if not (I am starting to learn Massenet’s Ave Maria/Meditation to accompany a friend, and she will not want my harp twangs interrupting her beautiful singing 😯).

Thank you very much for all the info and support. 😊

[balfour-knight]

That is so good about “avoiding special effects,” Jaydg! It gave us a chuckle. Yolanda’s book is a wonderful one, and we so enjoyed meeting her in person and hearing her do a concert, a few years ago. She is a great harpist.

Also, Park Stickney has made a “career” out of doing those special effects and pedal slides! I took a class with him in Atlanta and learned better how to apply those “defects” to jazz harp, and it is fun!

Good luck on your “Ave Maria.” We know it will be beautiful!

Balfour and Carol Lynn

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