How to Tune a Harp

Due to the number of strings on a harp (up to 47), tuning will require a bit of time, an electronic tuner and a harp-tuning key. Due to the melodic sound of the individual strings, the act of tuning, itself, can be an enjoyable endeavor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Celtic Harps
• Harp Benches
• Harp Carts
• Harp Covers
• Harp Strings
• Harps
• Tuning Keys
• Tuning Pick-ups
• Electronic Tuner

1. Use the tuning key that came with your harp, or purchase a tuning key from a harp store, the shopping list or the accessories section of a harp Web site.
2. Purchase an electronic tuner.
3. Note that the harp's C strings are color-coded red, and its F strings, black.
4. Begin with the middle C string and work your way down the strings and then back up. This makes your starting place easy to remember.
5. Place the tuning key into the string peg at the top of the harp.
6. Turn the tuning key little by little in the direction that brings the electronic tuner needle to the center of the note you are tuning.
7. Turn the key clockwise to raise the pitch and counterclockwise to lower the pitch.
8. Remove the tuning key carefully. Pull it straight out from the peg to avoid changing the string's tune.
9. Tune your strings before each practice and performance session.
10. Loosen the strings if you will not be using your harp for awhile. Atmospheric changes affect harp strings and will cause them to go out of tune.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to tune up to a pitch. If the pitch is too high, loosen the string slightly and then tune it.
• If you purchase a new string, plan to tune it several times during your initial practice session. After two or three sessions, it should be adjusted and require only simple adjustments like the rest of your strings.
• Prices of electronic tuners vary greatly. You can purchase a high-end Sony chromatic tuner for around $90 or a simple Korg electronic tuner for around $20. There is little noticeable difference between the two.
• It's easy to mistakenly turn the peg of a string adjacent to the one you're trying to tune!