The Top 3 Factors to Consider When Buying a Harp Instrument
Congratulations! You’ve finally decided that it’s time to get a new harp.
Whether you’re a first-time harpist or you’ve been playing the instrument your whole life, investing in a quality harp goes a long way to ensuring you get the best out of your practice.
However, choosing a good harp can be bewildering, particularly if you’re a first-time buyer as you may get a bit overwhelmed about the differences between harps and how they affect your purchasing decision.
At Harmony Harp, we believe that a good harp is a worthwhile investment. And even with all the options out there, knowing what to look out for will help you select the best harp for your musical needs.
Fortunately, we’ll be discussing these factors in detail, explaining to you the major qualities that make the best harp.
But first, we’d love to share a few facts about the harp which will give you some background information of this amazing instrument:
Harps date as far back as 15,000 BC, making them one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. They’ve been discovered in ancient burial tombs, with their paintings even seen on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs.
The term “harp” stems from the German, old Norse and Anglo Saxon word, which means ‘to pluck’. “Harpa” is a generic term for instruments with strings, first used during the first century.
Historically, three celebrity harpists helped to promote the interest in the harp instrument and secure its place in the musical culture throughout the years.
These celebrities were Carlos Saldezo (1885-1961), Marco Marrazoli (1602-1662), and John-Baptiste Krumpholz (1742-1790) from French, Italy, and the Czech republic respectively.
Now, let’s get to the top three factors you must consider when buying a harp…
1 - The Harp’s Size
Size is the first consideration that comes to mind when choosing a harp instrument.
Basically, there are two main types of harps, both varying in size and weight:
1. Pedal harps
They have seven built-in pedals, one for every note, at their base which link to the discs on the neck.
They’re huge in size, can stand on their own, and feature one of the largest arrays of strings, normally ranging from 40–47 in number.
Pedal harps are highly priced and more advanced, hence mostly used by professional harpists in large events and concerts.
2. Lever Harps
Lever harps are relatively smaller, lighter, and easier to transport than pedal harps.
They have levers at the top of every string which allow the harpist to play two different notes per string. The strings range between 20–40 in number.
Lever harps are most ideal for beginners since they’re easier to balance, more comfortable due to their light weight, and cheaper than pedal harps.
They also come in two key categories:
Floor harps: Larger lever harps that sit on the floor and are played by the harpist leaning the harp against their shoulder.
Knee/lap harps: Smaller level harps that are extremely portable and can be played while on the knee or on a table.
Unlike the pedal harp or lever harp, the Veeh Harp is played ‘front-on’, where the player faces the strings and soundboard. Typically a strumming action is not used and the player will pluck one or more strings toward themselves (usually with index fingers).
The right size of your harp instrument boils down to your intended use, level of expertise, and available storage space.
Below is a detailed comparison between the Veeh Harp and other harps to help you see the differences.
| Feature | Pedal Harp/Lever Harp | Veeh Harp |
| Size | Pedal harps and some lever harps are large in size and will need a big vehicle to transport. | Small, lightweight, and easy to move around. |
| Target audience | Ideal for professional settings, large events, and concerts. Lever harps are more accessible and are a more common choice for beginner harpists. | Can be used by anyone regardless of skill or musical background. No knowledge of music or music notation is required. |
| Degree of play | Pedal harps can be played in any key, whereas lever harps can only play in a limited number of keys. | The Veeh harp is tuned in semitones and can be played in any key. |
| Number of strings | Pedal harps have up to 47 strings, and lever harps have between 20-40 strings. | The Veeh Harp has 25 strings in the standard model, and 37 strings in the solo model. |
| Price | Depending on quality, intermediate harps cost around $1,500, with professional harps ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. | The Veeh Harp starts at $2,995 with inclusions of padded carry bag, prop stick, tuning hammer, electronic tuner, and an introductory sheet music book. |
2 - The Number of Strings on the Harp
The range of a harp is exclusively determined by the number of strings it has.
(Did you know that harp strings in the Middle Ages were primarily made from twisted animal gut, particularly from sheep? Silk and horse hair were used sometimes too.)
The number of strings on a harp largely affects the instrument’s tonal quality and range. A harp with more strings means that more tones can be played, with a richer and more full sound. But the trade-off is that the more the number of the strings in the pedal harp, the heavier and bulkier it is, and the more difficult it is to play.
Concert harps (which are pedal harps) weigh roughly 25–45 kilos, making them super heavy and difficult to transport or be handled by harpists with limited strength. On the other hand, harps with fewer strings are easier to play and lighter in weight. They’re most common with harpists who value mobility and ease of playing.
Generally, harps are designed with a particular number of strings to meet certain musical needs or playing styles.
The best number of strings for your harp will depend on your intended use and interest in the field.
What music do you intend to play? Why are you really learning to play the harp? Is it something you’d like to practise long term, or is it a one time class project? Will you be travelling a lot with it, or playing it from home?
Answering these questions will give you the most accurate idea of your best harp choice.
The standard harp is the most common choice among Veeh Harpists because it is light, easy to handle, and can be held in one hand while playing with the other. The solo harp is heavier and a little more awkward to play without a music stand. Although a little more challenging to play, the solo harp offer a larger range of notes and a warmer tone provided by the larger spruce soundboard.
We have two sizes of harps, both with varying numbers of strings as shown in the table below.
|
Solo Veeh Harp 
|
Standard Veeh Harp 
|
3 - The Quality of the Harp
If you want a harp that will give you the best service and stand the test of time, choose one that’s made by highly skilled craftsmen using the highest quality materials.
Such a harp is hardly mass-produced or bought with a click of a button.
It takes sheer skill, expertise, and an incredible investment in time to make a quality harp, ensuring everything comes out perfectly. The Veeh Harp is manufactured by hand by an incredible team of craftsman in their purpose built facility in Germany. The finest materials are sourced and the highest level of quality checks are carried out at every stage of production.
Only Opt for the Best Harp in the Game
At Harmony Harp, we believe in investing in a quality harp that’s made with longevity and versatility in mind.
The Veeh Harp is exclusively distributed in Australia by us, and although it is designed for people with a disability, it can be learned, played, and performed on by anyone without having to practise.
It uses a new kind of music notation where no prior knowledge of music is needed. All you need to do is follow the solid lines down the page, using your fingers to pluck the string over every circle.
To purchase a Veeh Harp or inquire on pricing, simply contact us through our online form and we’ll get back to you in no time!
