All the basic Autoharp moves in ONE place! Hal Weeks, SWA

[@susancallhutchison7986]

Just subscribed. My autoharp came two days ago. I've watched a few videos, but you are the teacher for me.

[@CS-yk2yr]

Loved this video Hal! What a great way to show all the different moves, and keeping the right timing!!! Your video's are always helpful and I enjoy them as much as I learn from them. Thank you for teaching me the love of an autoharp!

[@donnazappala7738]

Mr. Hal you are the best instructor I have ever seen!! Thank you so much for your videos. I just purchased my autoharp last week and have been learning so much from your videos!! I do intend to become one of your online students in the near future. Thank you again for all your time. Glad you are staying safe in WA!

[@adminprime]

Hey Hal love the autoharp instructions. Both of my forearms has physical limitations the bones in my right are fused together and the left just as bad. I am in the process of getting another autoharp. Last time I had one (since lost) was a few decades ago. I tried the cross arm method and had trouble, when on the table. This time will try against the shoulder.

[@gammydebbie]

Thank you again. The position of the camera was perfect... Helped me a lot! I'll fly away... amazing.

[@elainea966]

Wow!!! This video is wonderful!! I'll Fly Away is absolutely beautiful played that way! Thanks so much!!!

[@a1v2c]

Wow! Excellent! I had made my own summary on a piece of paper from all your teaching videos. Your version is more complete and concise than mine. This will help me organize my (limited) practice time better.

[@jayering1343]

Thank You, Hal. It’s so helpful to have all of these techniques described in one video! Hope you and yours are well during these trying times.

[@suzannev.514]

Thanks a lot for doing your videos you really help me to learn and you voice is so soothing

[@autoharpopenmic3123]

Thank you for this wonderful video. Such a great reference for all of us

[@the-highland-bagpiper]

That's a lovely harp!

[@sandraskowronski8408]

Hello Hal! I just submitted a form on your website ready to take lessons, but I don't know if I did it right lol so please keep a lookout for Sandra fay! I'm excited, hope to hear from you soon

[@deni-gibbs]

Hey Hal! I have to ask you something. I'm 68 yr old female. I'm not in very good health. BUT I LOVE MUSIC!! I play the recorder, harmonica, and for the last 5 years the ukulele. I can't really sing so I want to play music that people recognize. So I've been learning solo ukulele which I love but I just can't learn without a mistake. I'm not REAL GOOD at any of them. I am good but it's never perfect and my church music director won't let me do anything for the church. I use to play a lot at the nursing home but then Covid happened. Then I saw the autoharp & I thought I could catch on to that. Cuz I know about chords and I play by ear real good. So I decided an autoharp was the answer. I started watching you and saving. So I finally get one today. It's so BIG and cumbersome. I knew I had to tune it. I worked on that thing forever and never got it all done. I tried to mess around with it but really wanting to play my ukulele. Don't get me wrong I am not lazy. If I thought I would love it I would work hard on it. I think I'm having an identity crises. I would really like some kind comments...ideas,.

[@wildautoharp]

Hi Denise; you said "I have to ask you something", and then proceeded with laying out your tale, but didn't ask me anything. So I'll have to extrapolate what your question might be, and then answer THAT. If you finally got one TODAY, then don't expect for it to just be at home in your arms, or under your tuning wrench! The BIG LIE is that the autoharp is easy. It's not. Most autoharps in history went dormant when people learned that they'd have to tune them. Fortunately, for the past 30 years we've had electronic tuners that have really helped with that process. But you can't expect to just lay one next to your autoharp and beautiful music will pour out which you somehow managed to play all by yourself. No, you'll have to work at it, and work at playing, especially if you "can't really sing". I've only met a few people who "can't" sing. I've met a LOT of people who compare themselves to singing stars and think they can't, or more accurately WON'T because they can't sing LIKE THAT. I think it's actually easier to play melody on the piano than it is on the autoharp, because you can play one note at a time, one finger at a time. If you want to make "recognizable music" without SINGING, you'll have to work for it. Your Uke is lightweight compared to the Autoharp. The AH has to be somewhat beefy to support 1200 pounds of string tension. And all those strings have to be tuned....on a weekly basis, if not a daily basis, especially at first...so HANG IN THERE. Mostly it sounds like you have cold feet..."crap, the Autoharp's finally arrived...now I have to learn it!" Folk instruments have a lot of limitations. All instruments have a lot of limits....but the ones with fewer limits are "harder" to play and master. The ones with more limitations seem easier...till you try to bust out of those limits, or push them to the place where they don't seem like limits. Working with these folk instruments requires that we accept the limitations and work within them. Get it in your mind that getting there is ALL the fun. It has to be, and we will get better on the way, but it will NEVER be PERFECT.

[@deni-gibbs]

@@wildautoharp thank you so much Hal! I liked your ”cold feet" statement. That was funny. I'm not the type of person to just ”give up" or I still wouldn't be playing the uku. I'm just going to have to choose my priorities (just not enough time in the day). But I am going to save up money to have some lessons with you. Again thank you SO much!

[@loganmacinnis8675]

Thank you! Your autoharp picking video is VERY informative. All of the finger picks I currently have are known to fly off my fingers. Would you please tell me the make of your thumb and finger picks? Thanks so much!!

[@wildautoharp]

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[@wildautoharp]

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[@williambell3876]

Hello from England . Can the harp be played lying flat on a table . Like your videos lm learning a lot from you , thank you . Regards , Bill

[@wildautoharp]

Yes, absolutely. As a matter of fact, that's how it was played historically till the 1960s or so.

[@beckywhitefoot5992]

Thanks for the instructional vids. You know what would be helpful? When you are demonstrating something, could you just call out the chord you are playing so we can play along with you? Otherwise, I'm hunting and pecking to find the chord you are playing, all the while missing what you are saying. Thanks.