Valkyrie Cordes - How to String Your Pedal Harp

How to String Your Harp

NEWS

What String or Strings Do I Need To Order

When replacing strings, you need to know the octave and the note. Years ago a standardized numbering system was assigned to harp strings. The diagrams and charts referenced below will help you determine which string(s) you need when ordering. This information will also be helpful to new harp students as well as their parents, spouses etc that are not harpists and not sure what to order when asked. Most American harpists string their harps with 00G-0F and 1st octave in nylon, 2nd thru 5th octave A with gut strings and the remainder in wire strings. (Note: Valkyrie Cordes only stocks tarnish resistant wire strings with red C's and F's. This is the preferred type of wire string by the majority of harpists due to their longer life, resistance to humidity and other climate factors). In the case of students, your teacher may have specific string requirements for students, please consult your teacher prior to ordering.

Things to Remember

Standing facing the harp from the side, visualize the harp in front of you, harpists identify and count their strings one of two ways, depending on how they were taught or what has been easiest for them..
If you are use to starting at the left side, the column of the harp, the strings always start in the wire section, moving upward to the right through the middle section (guts) and the top section (nylon). Starting here your FULL octaves will start in F and go up ending in E. This is for octaves left to right 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd , 2nd, 1st and the 0 octaves. Your 7th octave of wires at the left side will vary with the string configuration of your harp and the maker as does the fact if you will have 0 or 00 octaves at the very top.
ie; F G A B C D E

OR

Facing your harp from the side, with the column at your left side, harp body to the right, starting from the right or body side of the harp, your full octaves going from right to left will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th. Depending on the manufacturer and model of your harp you may have NO “0” strings, or an 0F or 0F & 00G. This also applies to the number of wires you will have in the ending 7th octave all the way to your left. If you are used to moving from right to left (body down to column) then your full octaves will start on high 1st oct E and end in F for each octave. Using this method your 0 octave and 1st octave will usually be nylon followed by guts through 5th octave A, then your wires will start on 5th G and include all of 6th octave and any in 7th octave.
ie; E D C B A G F

Numbering System for Harp Stringsw

The traditional numbering system for harp strings was established years ago used for accommodating earlier model harps to today’s modern harps from 40 – 47 strings. You will find that most pedal harp strings when ordered and shipped will be labeled in this manner which is helpful for recognition and installation, especially for new harpists and non harp family members assisting.
If you have learned or been taught ordering by numbers the actual numbers start at 1st octave E (@top/body of harp) and count as follows:

00G order as 00G

0F order as 0F

The following charts will help you to visualize this text description better.  The charts are taken from the VENUS harps site and how all their various harp sizes are strung. If you have a VENUS these charts will be exactly what you need. Some harp makers have new designs with different configurations than the old standardized version. The best way to determine your harp is to look at its specifications listed on the manufacturer’s site or in their brochure for the model you own. All below have been taken directly from manufacturer’s brochures and/or websites within the last 3 years.

VENUS HARPS

42 string
Seraphim
1st octave D to 7th octave E

44 string
Cherub and Chamber harps
1st octave E to 7th octave D

46 string
ALL concert models Legende, Encore, Penti C, Premier, Protege, Traditional, Classic-C
0 octave 0F to 7th octave C

47 string
ALL Concert Grand Models Penti GC, Diplomat, Criterion, Classic, Aria, Paragon, Polonaise
0 octave 00G & 0f to 7th octave C

VENUS Gold harps are gold versions of above wood models. Use the # of strings to coordinate with the above 44, 46 or 47 string specs.

Lyon Healy Harps

40 string
85 Petite
1st octave E to 6th octave A

44 string
85 GP
1st octave E to 7th octave D

46 string
85 SG New, Style 17
0 octave 00G to 7th octave D

47 string
85 E, 85 CG, Style 100, Style 30, Salzedo, Style 23 wood, Style 23 Gold, Style 11, Style 2000 CG, Style 26, Style 3, Style 8, Prince William, Louis XV
0 octave 00G, 0f to 7th octave C

Older out of production models go by number of strings or by any specs on the model you may have or obtain. IF in doubt call L&H they are the best source for accurate information.


Salvi Harps

40 string
Daphne 40
1st octave E to 6th octave A

44 string
Daphne 44, Arion
1st octave E to 7th octave D

47 string
Daphne S, Daphne 47EX, Orchestra EX, Aurora, Diana, Apollo, Arianna, Scoplita, Minerva, Iris
0 octave 00G, 0f to 7th octave C

Camac Harps

44 string
Clio straight board, Clio Extended board
0 octave 00G, 0F to 6th octave F

47 string
The Blue, Oriane, Athena straight, Athena Extended
0 octave 00G, 0f to 7th octave C

Charts Below are based on VENUS Harp Models and Older L&H

47 String Harp

46 String Harp

44 String Harp

42 String Harp - Seraphim

Lever Harp Strings

Prelude ( L&H)
38 strings: Nylon 1st Octave E - 2nd Octave F, Natural Gut 3rd Octave - 5th Octave A, Bass Wires 5th Octave G - 6th Octave C (tarnish-resistant nickel-plated with colored-coded C and F).

Ana ( Salvi)
38 strings: Nylon 1st Octave E - 2nd Octave F Bow, 3rd Octave E - 5th Octave F, Bass Wires 5th Octave A - 6th Octave C (silver plated with color-coded C and F).

Troubadour I and II
33 strings: Nylon 1st Octave G - 5th Octave A, Bass Wires 5th Octave G - 6th Octave C (tarnish-resistant nickel-plated with colored-coded C and F)

Troubadour III or IV
36 strings: Nylon 1st Octave C - 5th Octave A, Bass Wires 5th Octave G - 6th Octave C (tarnish-resistant nickel-plated with colored-coded C and F)

Troubadour V
36 strings: Nylon 1st Octave C - 4th Octave F, Natural Gut 5th Octave E - A, Bass Wires 5th Octave G - 6th Octave C (tarnish-resistant nickel-plated with colored-coded C and F)

Troubadour VI
36 strings: Nylon 1st Octave C - F, Natural Gut 2nd Octave E - 5th Octave A, Bass Wires 5th Octave G - 6th Octave C (tarnish-resistant nickel-plated a with colored-coded C and F)

Ogden
34 strings: Nylon 1st Octave A - F, Natural Gut 2nd Octave E - 5th Octave A, Bass Wires 5th Octave G - 6th Octave C (tarnish-resistant nickel-plated with colored-coded C and F)

McFall
38 strings: Nylon 1st Octave E - 2nd Octave F, Natural Gut 3rd Octave E - 5th Octave A. Need Lever type wires, not available here.

Folk Harp
34 strings: Nylon 1st Octave A - 4th Octave F, Natural Gut 5th Octave E-C. Needs lever type wires, not available here.

All other lever harp models/makers, check manufactuers spec to determine if they take "lever type nylon, gut and/or wires or can use pedal harp nylon, gut and/or wires prior to purchase.

Tuning Your Harp

Tuning the harp might seem like a very simple procedure, but a small misstep can cause harm to the harp and harp strings. When tuning in the key of C-natural. the pedals must be in the natural, or center position. It is actually better, though, for the harp to be tuned in the key of C-flat. When the pedals are in the flat, or top position, the discs won't grab the strings. Even though tuning is taught by all harp teachers, sometimes beginners can make mistakes. Just remember to check where the pedals are before tuning, and then tune your harp in the appropriate key.

Parts of Your Harp

Now that your new harp has been delivered, within the following pages are some informative tips that you will need for routine maintenance and care

It is important to know the name used for the parts of the harp. It is hard to know what to do about a problem if you don't know how to describe it. A Lot of confusion in the future can be avoided by becoming familiar with the basic parts of the harp. However, things are never clear-cut. What might be referred to as the pedal box in the New England area is called the base in the Midwest. And what most people call the neck by some is called the harmonic curve.

Click the images below for a larger view of the parts of a harp..

1st Octave