Description: The autoharp is a member of the zither family of chordophones. A luthier named Karl August Gutter who built the “volkzither” who could be considered the predecessor of the autoharp seen today issued a patent in England for the instrument in 1883-1884. In America a dispute about the autoharp centers between the two makers George Orthley and his competitor “Oscar Schmitt”. The autoharp has remained a staple in North American music particularly Appalachian, early Country and folk music.  In the 2910’s there was a legal-suite filed by a maker under the name “Orthley instruments”, George Orthley versus Oscar Schmidt”. This ruling suggested that Oscar Schmidt could only apply its stylized logo upon the autoharp. Orthley Instruments continued to improve the development of the autoharp, since the ruling Orthley Instruments uses the name “dulci-harp”.

Development: Prior to the 1950s often a microphone or transducer type pickup were applied to the autoharp for amplification. In the 1970s autoharps outfitted with electro-magnetic pickups arrived on the scene. These pickups for the autoharp were manufactured by Harry DeArmond. Oscar Schmidt did release their own electro-magnetic pickups soon after other brand-names developed their autoharp-pickups.

Playing Techniques: When playing the autoharp it is held upright and close to the chest, either sitting or standing. The left hand presses the bars that produce the chords. These bars have specifically placed cut notches in which allow the strings to go through in creating the chords. While the left hand activates the chords by pressing the bars the strumming is done with the right hand. The key assembly for the autoharp consists of 12 bars whose notches correspond to each chord. On the bottom of each bar felt is applied to area of where the strings come into contact with the bar. A tuning wrench is used to adjust the tension and tuning pins for the autoharp the same technology is widely applied on many plucked zithers and dulcimers alike.

Citations: Autoharp.org > Google Search Autoharp Owners Manual > Orthleyautoharps.com> Elderly Instruments, autoharp accessories > to order autoharp accessories > Rozbrown.com/autoharp Q & A > Origins of the autoharp "volkzither" zithers-usa.com.