How to Insert New Harp String Into Harp Bridge

Video Transcript

"Hi! My name is Jesse Sparhawk on behalf of Expert Village. I can be reached at myspace.com/jessesparhawk. We are continuing string changing. We’ve removed our second octave B string, which was torn and frayed. We are going to be replacing it with a new second octave gut B string. The best way to start is to actually put the string through the top bridge hole, which is in the soundboard, and of course, if you only have one broken string you will know which one it is that you need to replace. It’s best to start this way, only because if you were to attach the end pin to the string first and then try to reach your hand in, if there is a confined space try to get the unfinished end through which is much more difficult. We have the second octave string through the bridge hole and the second octave B. We have the end that we are going to be attaching the bridge pin to, which is right here. This is the dowel that is actually going to hold the string from just slipping through the hole in the bridge. The first thing you want to do with this string and you can also find diagrams online as far as how to do this properly, is just make one loop where the top end part of the string is going over the main part of the string. This is the part that you want to be careful with and make sure that you get it right, because it could take some doing. I would say this is plenty of slack to do that, so we have the main part of the string and then we put this loop over, first loop. Then the next step is the second loop. You want to get enough slack with that first loop because the second loop is actually at that end, the same end, so it is these two points. So we have the first loop right here, string over where my thumb is, and then the second loop. You do want to economize on this length of string because however much string you might waste at this end determines, especially for these smaller strings, whether you are actually going to be able to get a second entire replacement string out of. There’s a plenty more slack here, as you can see, that I will actually be able to… when I come to breaking the second octave B again I am going to have this saved to replace it again. Again, those two loops, first and second, and then the second loop actually goes through the first loop. A way to also economize on this is to keep actually putting the loops through each other just to try and get more length on this end of the string. You’ve got the second loop going through the first loop. What you want to do is pull this part of the string back, keeping the second loop through the first loop, and then this dowel, go through the first loop, making sure that we are still trying to keep the slack minimal so that you can tie the knot. You want to take this slow as you can see what kind of problems you can run into just keeping the loops together. This is how easy it gets even after playing harp for many years. It doesn’t get any easier. So right now you have got a knot put around the dowel and even if it is not terribly tight. You want to get it as tight as possible without breaking or compromising the strength, which is difficult to do, admittedly. Bring the bridge pin to the bridge on the underside of the harp, making sure that inside the harp that it’s sitting flush. Then you have the string fastened and in the next segment, we will attach the string of the harp and tune it up. "