How to Tune a Harp with a free tuning app!

[@rebeccagrace5775]

I like this guide. As a new harp player, i find this video incredibly useful! Thank you for making it, and I am buying the app soon.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Rebecca. I'm so glad this was so helpful for you!!!! WONDERFUL news :) And other good news is that the app is free, so you don't even need to buy it! Congratulations on starting the harp, it's a really exciting journey. Are you taking lessons or teaching yourself?

[@mariavontrapp4632]

I just bought my first harp today! Got a Salvi Prima 34 super cheap! It didn't come with a tuning wrench so I'll need to buy one of those before I play but I'm super excited!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

AWESOME! that's so exciting Brooke! Please pop us an email on [e-mail] if you're looking for some tips on how to get started. We also have an awesome Facebook group called Learning the Harp Together, with an amazing and kind community of Harp players! They're super helpful, and it's great to know there's somewhere you can go when you begin a journey and are looking for a little nudge, encouragement or help 🥰. Xx Nicole, LTH Team Member

[@mimaJona]

I just tuned my haaaarp! This really helped a lot. My rock band mates says that my harp was off key, i thought i tuned it right. But now it sounds better

[@LearningtheHarp]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Yay!! Well done! 😅

[@thepotato405]

I have a 12 string celtic harp on it's way to me is there any videos that show how to tune it? I'm scared of playing with an out of tune harp lol my first one

[@2krandolph]

This video has been very helpful. I used the Pano Tuner app and a virtual piano website to get my bearings. Thank you!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Great! 😃🙌🏻

[@jimjamguitar6699]

Thank You! I will use this app to tune My new harp. I appreciate You taking the time to do this ☺️

[@howardmcmillian5764]

The tuner on the phones picks up sound threw the phone's mic. That is why whenever she talks the notes go crazy.

[@elizabethdexter3779]

Thanks as always. Could you do a video on tuning in E flat. I kind of understand how to , but would love to see a pro do it.

[@carolpernarowski8107]

Many thanks, this has been a great help, just got my first harp and was feeling quite lost. Thanks for your help.

[@ST-PubgMobile]

Hey bro just bought a harp any advice on this tuning it

[@DrSallyGray]

Thank you! This was super duper helpful! 😉

[@AlexandrineSavatier]

I was taught to start in the middle at middle C; tuning all the C's first; then you count five down and tune the F below middle C and tune all the F's; then count five down from there; etc. If I get stuck I count five up instead of down. I think maybe it's a way wire harpers are taught so that the harp tension is changed evenly throughout the harp..But that was how I was taught. Interesting. Have you heard of tuning this way?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes, that totally makes sense! I can see that helping, especially if you're going to have to make quite big changes in tension.

[@doraocallaghan7019]

Love it .... love it.... love it Christy

[@Snowythelittlecutehamster]

thank you🙂

[@alicethomas8988]

I am frustrated because you didn't explain what the green and red bars stand for on the app tuner. You say sharp or flat but which is it? I started at the far end of the harp as you suggested and when I plucked the string I was nowhere near a "C" and was it suppose to land in the green area or the red area?

[@ThatsTheSpiritGodCast]

Hi Christy. I have a new Davidic ten strings harp. The nylon red coloured string is on the middle. And there are two blue strings. The others are plain or clear. Please can you tell me what the blue strings should ? Many thanks 🙏. P. s. love your hair xx

[@henanguan3359]

Thank you very much! Very helpful.

[@theempress8682]

Thank you for this video. I just received my new 19 string Roosebeck Pixie Harp with Chelby Levers. Reading on how to tune the harp felt extremely overwhelming. Your video took all my anxieties away! Also is there a stand that you can recommend that would make it easier to balance the harp? Thank you!

[@kristinasterling815]

I can't get the app to move off the settings screen. Please talk sometime about that settings screen. Want to tune this harp!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hey Kristina! Are you on an iPhone? I just tap “done” in the top right hand corner to get out of settings. Does that work for you?

[@SuperFluffySquirrels]

Can the Pano Tuner app be set to a half step flat for easier tuning with pedals in flat or up position?

[@LearningtheHarp]

You can just tune to the notes you want, it works fine for that! After a while you don’t notice the weird note names eg. A# for your Bb.

[@LRedith]

My harp is a Fireside harp my zither pins are on the front there's nothing on the back of the harp and the bridge pins are all on the front does that make a difference?

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s fine! Just follow the same concepts, you will quickly figure out which way to turn the pins to make the note sharper or flatter

[@alphafemelle2998]

Hi , thanks for the video, where can i get the tuner ? Thanks

[@papasophia4997]

excellent guide. very well explained. i noticed you are using Concert Pitch. have you tried tuning to Irish Standard?

[@cathyrichards7416]

This is very very useful thanks😀

[@gutsandgrittv5076]

Hello Christy! Have you ever tuned your harp to 432hz?

[@123Janani123]

Thank you, it is really helpful

[@artSPC]

Super

[@cyriellelaurent570]

I just bought a brand new harp and need to tune it. I'd like to know what middle C should sound like ( what frequency should it be at). It feels like the harp might be an octave to high but how do I know that for sure? Can you help me with that?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi there! I can’t tell you which octave a particular C should be because it depends on the harp, but it’s very unlikely that it’s tuned an octave too high. The harp soundboard would be bulging up visibly and probably break before you could even tune it that high. Hope that helps 😊

[@cyriellelaurent570]

But doesn't middle C sound always the same? Regardless of the harp?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes but some small harps have “middle C” as their lowest string… it’s named middle C because it’s the middle of a piano, not the middle of a harp.

[@lionljb]

got a bought a 22 string harp. the only thing I wasn't able to find in any video is: do you have to tune the lowest string of a 22 string to C4 or C3? (On my harp C ist the 3rd lowest). Great video

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi! Congrats on your new harp, very exciting! Tune the bottom string to the C that is closest to how it is tuned when you get the harp. Be careful of making any drastic changes like tuning it an octave different to how it is when you get it; that could cause damage to the harp. If you’re unsure, you should check with the harp maker or harp shop where you bought the harp. For a 22 string C to C harp the lowest string is usually an octave below middle C. I don’t refer to strings with numbers like C4 etc, because there are a few different numbering systems and I don’t want to confuse people.

[@lionljb]

@@LearningtheHarp thank you. It is in tune now, and ready to play : )

[@LearningtheHarp]

Wonderful!! 😃

[@ellengrolman6288]

Christy-Lyn, I'm a new harpist (about a month) and a retired, professional cellist. I've recently re-tuned my 39-string nylon-strung rental harp from C to E-flat. I'm finding that once I tune the instrument to my satisfaction in E-flat, once I put the levers up, some of those strings are no longer in tune and it's driving me crazy. For instance, the lowest 'A-flat' is in tune without the lever up, but as soon as that lever is engaged, the string seems too sharp. Triads sound really out of tune. I've read that I should not tune while levers are up. Can you address this, please? Thanks.

[@arcticwarrior3499]

Is there a Tutorial Book 101 on Harps, especially on 10 string lyre harps? 😉

[@LearningtheHarp]

I don’t know about 10 string lyre harps, but there are some good method books for learning the harp. Usually the method books assume that you have at least 26 strings. I like Pamela Bruner’s Learn to Play the Harp Beautifully book 1 👌🏻

[@arcticwarrior3499]

Thanks, I'll get this book! I'm thinking about also buying two more harps (the one that straps to our waist, and the grand pedal one).

[@SURAH267]

Thank you so much

[@mariainpaint16]

Hello Christy-Lyn I have just found your video. I have downloaded the pano tuner app, but how do i know whether the strings are supposed to be in e flat or normal e for example?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Did you see my video about tuning in Eb or C? That answers your question 😊

[@crazybadcuber9492]

What are the notes for a lap harp

[@LearningtheHarp]

It depends on the size of your harp 😄 Have a look at my other video “How to tune a harp for the first time” 👍🏻

[@richardmiller191]

Excellent video! Thanks for posting. Just bought a small 22 string Celtic lever harp. I assume all color coding is the same? Red for c, black or blue for f ? One question - pardon my ignorance but why are there no sharp notes? Not used in a harp?

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Richard. Congratulations on getting your first harp, super exciting! 😃 Yes, red strings are Cs and black/blue strings are Fs. The sharps and flats come from levers or pedals. As you get started, I would suggest you work through a method book so that you can learn about the basics of harp technique and theory, and have a road map of how to get there step-by-step. Have you seen my video about getting started with the harp?

[@einsteindrieu]

Love your video.

[@serenitypeaceandcomfort3669]

I have a Kinnor harp/ lyre(A King David/Biblical harp). Is the tuning fairly the same ? I went to a local music store and they were no help!This is all new to me and I have no idea what I'm doing.

[@LearningtheHarp]

You would tune in the same way, you’d just need to have the correct tuning key, and make sure you know which string is tuned to which notes (CDEFGAB etc). But the method of tuning would be the same 😊👍🏻

[@serenitypeaceandcomfort3669]

Thanks for your help!!

[@purisomya6002]

Okay I'm kinda confused... Harp comes in variety of numbers of strings and octaves.. but when you read a sheet music, like for piano for example, where notes are spread basically through all the 7 octaves, how do you play those on a harp that just has 4 or 5... Ik We can always play with what we have got but doesn't that change the pitch or something? Im still new to these so i don't know if I'm making any sense but I'd be so glad if you could help!

[@LearningtheHarp]

When you play on a harp with 4 octaves, you either play music that was written for only that number of strings, or you adapt the music that was written for a wider range... and yes, play it at a different pitch where necessary. The sheet music is not holy and untouchable, you can adapt it to your needs and the needs of your harp. Watch my video about adapting music for small harps, that might clear things up a bit 😊

[@mobmoneymoovez6407]

What about orchestral harps?

[@LearningtheHarp]

You could use the same concepts, just have all the pedals up and tune in C flat 😊

[@shilpajain8270]

How to choose octave

[@LearningtheHarp]

When you get your harp it won’t be as much as an octave out of tune, so you should tune the C string to the closest C. You can also check the range of your harp. Usually a small (22 string or 27 string harp) - that has C as the lowest note - is going to start with the C below middle C. And a 34 string harp starts with the C below that. If your harp has less than 22 strings it will start with a note higher than the C below middle C.

[@shilpajain8270]

Thanks a lot, panotuner app is not available on googleplay ,it's there only on iphones, can you suggest an alternative tuning app from googleplay or a tuner that may be bought online

[@LearningtheHarp]

Try searching Pano Tuner. I found it on Google Play 😊

[@VeronicaVeronica1]

How do I tune a harp with no levers in the key of G?

[@LearningtheHarp]

First tune your harp in the key of C, and then tune your Fs to be F sharps.

[@claudiaciornei557]

My E Harp string untunes instantly. What can I do?

[@LearningtheHarp]

I’m not sure exactly how that harp works, but sometimes it can help to push the peg into the wood of the harp as you turn, which can drive it more firmly into its hole and make it more secure. But that depends on the type of tuning pegs - if it’s threaded that won’t be a good idea.

[@Jdmannrn]

My harp is tuned in Eb major how do you tune that. My harp is new and I am finding some notes are starting sound out of tune.

[@LearningtheHarp]

You can use the same tuning app, and tune in the same way. Just make sure that your E strings are showing up as Eb (E flat) and the same with Bb (B flat) and Ab (A flat). Give it a try and let me know if you manage ok! 😊

[@lamiaproma1717]

Ma'am could you please make a video on how to tune a 16 string lyre harp? I got a Walter T lyre harp as a gift from my mom, but I'm having trouble tuning it.. please save me!!!! It would be better if I could direct mail you on FB or Instagram and discuss this problem. :(

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi Lamia! I don’t have experience with the lyre harp so I’m not sure how they’re tuned. I suggest you join the Facebook group “Celtic Harp” and post about your question there. I’m sure someone will be able to help you 😃

[@lamiaproma1717]

@@LearningtheHarp Thank you for the group suggestion mam. I hope I can find a solution there. 🙂

[@arcticwarrior3499]

I am new to musical instruments. I chose the harp as my instrument, currently have a 10 string lyre harp and your tuning app. I don't understand the music terminology and lingo yet but will Google and learn in time. With harps though, if I get a music sheet, does it tell me what letter the string must be tuned to? I will join your patreon page soon.

[@LearningtheHarp]

The string is always tuned to the letter name of that string - sheet music assumes this 😊 For example red strings are always Cs and black strings are always Fs (and the same with all the strings in between). Hope that makes sense!

[@arcticwarrior3499]

@@LearningtheHarp Thank you! Are there any other colours to look out for? I think I've seen blue and white/yellowish strings?

[@Luksenburg00]

And i think its rough to tune my 6 string guitar

[@Savannah3872]

Where did you buy the harp runner stick tool which help you to change the tone?

[@LearningtheHarp]

It comes with the harp 😃 And if you lose it, you can order another from your harp maker.

[@Moonlightrealgirl]

Ohhh ur meant to turn it while its reverberating…. I’ve been doing a turn and guess 😅🤣. Thank you! And also thx for inspiring me to start harp!

[@will2741]

Is ‘the notes you tune each string to’ a closely guarded secret amongst the brother and sisterhoods of he harp, cos I’m coming up blank

[@LearningtheHarp]

You can watch my video “should I tune my harp in C or Eb” 😊👍🏻

[@jlucas1987]

❤️

[@LoreenBuford]

what is that tuner app called

[@phyllisalberici2193]

Pano Tuner and it's a FREE iPhone app. There may be an Android version too.

[@LoreenBuford]

Thanks! I found it. I'm going to use it for my autoharp.

[@normalnebula6905]

The app’s called pano tuner ;)

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yip! 👌🏻

[@rebeccagrace5775]

WOWOOWOWOWOOWOWOWOOWOWOWOOWOWOOWOWOWOWOOWOWOWO

[@jacomiententeije5417]

🎶🙂🎶

[@artSPC]

I am Indian 🇮🇳

[@sparktherandomgamer4799]

Haha 3 years in I have find out :| during lockdown because nobody’s here to do it for me

[@sharonsarabia531]

⁰

[@halafradrimx]

Whoa shiny teeth.

[@rebeccagrace5775]

:)