What factors affect string tension?

[lisa-matthews]

HI, I have what is probably an obvious question but I’m just not sure of the answer. Is there a way to lower the tension of a particular harp? What choices affect string tension? Is it the harp or the strings that determine the amount of tension? Thanks, Lisa

[william-weber]

The longer the string is, the more tension is required to bring it to a given pitch, so one solution would be to restring the harp to have lower range. The heavier a string is, also, the more tension is needed to attain pitch, so you could restring it with lighter strings, which Laurie at Markwood Heavenly Strings could help you with. With lower tension comes reduced energy capacity, so expect less volume capability from any thing you do to reduce tension. I don’t know what luthiers build good low-tension harps with thin spruce soundboards the way James Cox did in the 1980s but that would be a way of getting low tension with minimal sacrifice of volume of sound.
Good luck,
William Weber

[lisa-matthews]

Thank you William. That really lays it out in a great way. I appreciate your explanation:> Lisa

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