Відео

Hal. An additional tip. Someone told me at MLAG that instead of wax paper that no longer works you can use the liner to a cereal box. I tried it, bought a couple store brand big boxes of corn flakes, threw away the flakes and box and kept the liner. I just siliconed two harps. It worked great. Silicone didn't stick! Try taping it down to a flat surface (I used some plexiglass I had on hand). When taping it down stretch it out to take out wrinkles. Can reuse. I dusted them with baking powder, which is largely corn starch. In addition I found out that trimming it by laying it on cardboard and using a razor knife to cut down one side was quicker and more accurate than using scissors. I did use scissors to trim gaps between pads. Anyhow, thats what I know. David Shucavage

Hal my old friend you look great nice to see you love your shirt

I enjoy playing my autoharp as a lap harp. And it is comfortable for me to cross hands. I don't mind that the pattern is oriented differently than when I'm playing it upright. That may be because I am so new to playing that nothing is automatic muscle memory yet. I still have to think to play, but the pattern makes sense in borh orientations. Am I making life too hard for myself, or should I just choose one way and stick with it?

Absolutely effortless playing- a true inspiration and joy to listen to! I love this

Rights of Man ?

Sá y up

Very reassuring...thank you.

Thank you ...loved you attitudes

Why didn't you wear a light-colored shirt for contrast against the strap?

Hey Hal! Do you take requests? I'd like to hear "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New."

Very well explained, IMHO, thanks Hal!

Beautiful Hal!

Love it!

That was fun, in a reverse sort of way.

Why am I backwards? WESTPHALIA WALTZ

I’m practicing that!

Way cool Hal!

whatever happened to mouse pad? router pad? what else?

Hal, you’re working in what’s now the largest autoharp manufacturing and maintenance facility in the world, so your view carries some weight! I just got a chance to hang out and visit with Pete, Greg, John and Ray at MLAG, but this is the 1st I’ve heard on this. My needs for felt are minimal - mainly for my own harps and those of occasional students, but what with the decline of the autoharp in general visibility and popularity this comes as no surprise. We can be thankful that George, Tom and Greg got a handle on the making of autoharp strings, which is another choke-point on the making and maintenance of autoharps. My first thought is that one other industry which uses lots of felt is the manufacture and maintenance of pianos. Is felt in _sheets_ of varying thickness and stiffness available for piano repair? If so, it should be straightforward at the scale at which Pete and Greg work to fabricate machinery to cut it into accurately sized strips with appropriate widths on the scale at which you all and Greg Schreiber work. I’ve observed that Greg, in particular, because of his background as a machinist, is quite adept at making and modifying tools to do specialized manufacturing jobs. I’ve worked in his shop making strings for him and have admired his creativity in adapting and improving his string winding machine! The REALLY specialized part of autoharp felt has to be the peelable, self-adhesive backing. It isn’t essential, but makes the job truly DIY. Thanks for the tip on waxed paper. We’re always dependent on other people’s manufacturing methods, no matter how remote they seem. Where can we get the mold release compound you show? I’m truly an “old timer” who went through many tubes of silicone sealer for both pre-treating felt on bars and for refurbishing bars with notches.

Thank you Hal.

I’ve played the autoharp for 52years. I’m currently using a Radio Shack lavalier mic. Recently it’s been creating “fuzzy static” through my Kustom PA speakers. Not constantly but occasionally. I’ve changed the RCA plug with a new one. I’ve changed the extension cord to a new one also. Still it’s creating occasional “fuzzy static.” It’s either the mic head itself is deteriorating or it requires a new battery. The Silver Bullet mic requires a mixer board doesn’t it?

Interesting to learn that there are left-handed autoharps. Failing to be able to play the autoharp by holding it up in the usual manner, I discovered that I could play by putting the autoharp on a table and standing up in front of it with the chord bars to my right. I do the strumming with my left hand and press the chord bars down with my right hand. I have a d'Aigle Tahoma and a fairly recent 21-chord Oscar Schmidt as well as the first autoharp that I bought used for $200 about 10 years ago -- a 15-chord Oscar Schmidt from the 1970s. Each one has a different chord bar arrangement. Each one has a distinctive sound. I especially like the F#m on the Tahoma. My playing is on the primitive side but the music I can make with my autoharps brings me joy. I had a fourth autoharp, also an Oscar Schmidt, but gave it away to a 12-year-old Sudanese refugee who spoke no English but clearly had an immediate affinity for the autoharp. I taught him the little I know and showed him how to do the tuning. I imagine that his playing has far surpassed mine and that he is able to playing it holding it up in the usual manner.

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

What depressing news. As someone with well north of 100 chord bars in various stage of needing new felts (I'm really tough on them) I guess the only thing for me to do is to NOT go to MLAG this week, and just sit in the basement, depressed and not playing.

OMG RUSH ON FELT! OH NO…..

I've got a good supply of felt from D'Aigle in reserve thank goodness. I'm wondering though, if the self adhesive foam weather stripping would work?

Is there such a thing as poly felt?

Yikes! I just ordered 20 feet of felt from Ebay yesterday! They say it just shipped from Michigan and is on its way. I hope it will be okay! If it isn't, I'll try your silicone trick.

Thanks good instructions. Wishing I could upgrade from os harp but enjoy your instructions and help. I do enjoy playing also

Hal, who in the DFW meteoplex in Texas would you recommend to look at harps

I appreciate your videos I am learning so much

I must borrow your ears, please?! Appalachian style is ok, but I am only starting and "it" ( by the infamous "they") suggested placing harp on table?!?! My T, I -T, I and pinch pluck is coming together after the breaks you recommended

Too fast

Thank you!

Can I get more information about the bottom line luthier autoharp please ?

I don't know if you talked about these before, but I had made a set already! The notes are out of order on mine because I did it by exploring the instrument, but it's handy anyway.

Love this content!!!

this is wonderful for a non music reader. I have accidentally found chords to throw in because "they sound right". Or I have watched other players inserting chords and copied them but I didn't know why. Thank you. I don't know why I can learn a foreign language with ease but not this musical language.

This is a great video Hal, you made it so easy to understand how to pick out the melody notes. I've struggled with getting the melody just right and never thought of doing this. Now it makes total sense to me. I should have kept my childhood piano lessons in mind instead of doing the hunt and peck method. Many thanks, this will help a lot of people! ♥

This must be the best and most detailed presentation of autoharp design playing and anatomy I’ve ever come across. Very well done. Excellent

I was given an autoharp which was too heavy to hold upright .table was fine but it was awkward . It surprises me as the vast majority of zithers are played on the table in Europe .since 95% are right handed it’s weird we have to resort to lefty autoharp to play tabletop fashion

At last , someone has identified the mirror images problem of auto haps . I’ve never seen a reverse layout . The most Important thing is not the layout of buttons but I take your point .. it is the fact that the thumb needs to adddress the bass strings like guitar

Hello everyone, I'm looking for an autoharp for left-handers... so far I haven't had any success, does anyone have an idea... Regards Frank

I just recently, as in last week, found Alice's videos and love her playing style and her voice! Her Bruce Springsteen cover is so beautiful. This interview was very enjoyable, thank you for posting it!

I love that “using the force.”

Cool, Hal, I like where this is going!

Excellent idea! Im so glad youre still making videos, it helps tremendously. Now Im going to do my homework.....or my mom is gonna ground me. 😂😂

I'll be doing this for sure, although the Major Chords I know but the Minors and & 7ths not so much. This idea is invaluable. Another plus is that once you know the chords, it makes cutting new felts a lot easier too, (I think). Great tips for all of us Hal!

Thanks. I needed this.

Thank you, this helps a lot! I'm working on learning the autoharp to compliment my zither music. Such a fun instrument to jam to!