Description: The autoharp is a zither with mechanical arms or “keys” which are held together in place with two springs underneath each key. Each time a key is pressed and a series of strings is strummed in which allow the sound to occur. There are three types 1.) Chromatically tuned 2.) Diatonically tuned and rarer forms of autoharp are available in pentatonic tunings. All the forms of autoharp are beautiful in sound however the pentatonic tuning is rare and less used; the pentatonic-tuned autoharp is well suited for folk songs composed in the pentatonic scale however the chromatic and diatonic tunings are more suited for wider range of tones. The origins of the auto harp? The autoharp may have Germanic origins, but there is an on-going debate on the autoharp in regards to its more precise origins. The instruments are often attributed to the name Charles F. Zimmerman a Garman immigrant who lived in Philadelphia; in the year of 1882. Another German instrument maker named Karl August Gütter of the town Markneukirchen, in Germany.

It is this instrument maker Karl August Gutter who built the "Volkzither" which resembles the autoharp seen today. Karl Gutter's British patent for the instrument in which was patented during 1883-1884; the autoharp in its contemporary trapezoid appearance, today many manufactures make this instrument but some of the more noticeable "vintage" autoharps sought after by musicians and collectors alike are the "Oscar Schmitt" and other known vintage names who once have produced or continue to produce these autoharps. The beginnings of the autoharp in North America: As to the creation and invention of the American-autoharp the origins are some what in dispute. Its believed widely the instrument maker and manufacturer Oscar Schmitt was the inventor of the autoharp though during the times in the 1920s there was legal-suite by another maker under the name "Orthley instruments" the company is named after the luthier "George Orthley" to whom founded the company. The ruling of this legislation was at the time "Oscar Schmitt" could only apply the stylized writing of the instrument whilst Orthley instruments continued to improve the development of the autoharp. The name "dulci-harp" was used to term the instrument by George Orthley when Oscar Schmitt came on the scene. When the folk revival and other musical genres including American-Country in 1940s the Carter sisters were known to use George Orthley instrument; currently today I would like to mention more notable players and other plays but that would take up several pages.

Tuning the Autoharp

Chromatic Tuning: C-C#-D-D#-E-F-G-G#-A-A#-B-C-C#-D-D#-E-F-F#-G-G#-A-A#-B-C

Playing the autoharp: Each bar with in the autoharp key assembly have two springs which when pressed dampens the chord when strummed the chord produced; during play a pair of strings holds the chord-bar when stationary it makes contacts with the left and right supports (often of plastic nowadays). When pressed the felt of the bar produces the chord where it makes contact with each strings. The string sets are specific but some other instrument-strings can be substituted with when replacing the strings.

The types of autoharp: Electric autoharps arrived on the scene much later in the 20th century in which the pickups were manufactured by Harry DeArmond one of the first commercial makers of electric-guitar pickups. Prior to the 1950s often a microphone type pickup with tin was rudimentary and often improvised; Oscar Schmitt did release their own electro-magnetic autoharp pickup, other name-brand manufactures and independent makers of pickups do produce autoharp pickups. The electric autoharp did make the entry around in the 1970s in which it remains in use still today. The tuning of the autoharp consists of a tuning-wrench as with most instruments such as dulcimers and other zithers that incorporate this technology. The wrench tunes the tuning pins.

Anatomy of autoharp: The keys on the specimen of autoharp I have along with many others often have springs inserted prior to the bars being inserted. When playing the instrument the bar produces by damping some of the strings to produce a chord, on my autoharp the spring-loaded bars are as follows F major, G minor, C major, C7th, D minor, D7th, E7th, G major, G7th, A minor, A 7th, Bb major. Each bar have two springs which when pressed dampens the chord when strummed the chord produced. A pair of strings holds the chord-bar when stationary it makes contacts with the left and right supports (often of plastic nowadays). When pressed the felt of the bar produces the chord where it makes contact with each strings. 

The string sets are specific but some other instrument-strings can be substituted with when replacing the strings. Electric autoharps arrived on the scene much later in the 20th century in which the pickups were manufactured by Harry DeArmond one of the first commercial makers of electric-guitar pick ups. Prior to the 1950s often a microphone type pickup with tin was rudimentary and often improvised; Oscar Schmitt did release their own electro-magnetic autoharp pickup, other name-brand manufactures and independent makers of pickups do produce autoharp pickups. The electric autoharp did make the entry around in the 1970s in which it remains in use still today. The tuning of the autoharp consists of a tuning-wrench as with most instruments such as dulcimers and other zithers that incorporate this technology. The wrench tunes the tuning pins.

Citations: Google Search Autoharp Owners Manual

Resources: Orthleyautoharps.com / Elderly Instruments, autoharp accessories > to order autoharp accessories