Replacing a Wire Harp String, Harp Care, Maintenance, and Repair #13

Changing a wire string on a harp is not that common, but when it comes up there are a few key differences in how you replace a wire string compared to a gut or nylon string. This video demonstrates in step by step instructions how to replace a wire string on a pedal harp.
00:00 Introduction
1:12 Tools needed
1:49 Removing the old string
3:00 Preparing the harp
3:34 Threading the new string through the harp
4:48 Leaving slack on the string
5:44 Winding the string around the tuning pin
6:55 Tuning the string
7:29 Clipping off the excess string
7:51 Conclusion
Other string changing videos:
How to Determine the Correct Replacement String:
• How to Determine the C...
Replacing a Nylon String:
• Replacing a Nylon Harp...
Replacing a Gut String:
• Replacing a Gut Harp S...
Replacing a Full Set of Strings:
• Replacing a Full Set o...
Jacqueline Pollauf is a professional harpist based in Baltimore, Maryland. She regularly publishes videos in a variety of categories: solo works, instructional videos, harp repair and maintenance, and inspirational videos for young harpists.
Recordings are available through all major music outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.
More information about Jacqueline is available at her website: www.jpharp.com/. Here you can sign up for her mailing list, find out about upcoming performances, and learn about online harp lessons and workshops.
Visit Jacqueline’s informational harp website, www.harpinsideout.com/, for a wealth of informative articles and videos about the harp. Sheet music of Jacqueline’s exercises and arrangements is available for purchase here as well.

[@melisasv]

Thank you my G5 just broke and I had a vague idea how to do it but was really unsure about how it was done. Very helpful !

[@JacquelinePollauf]

So glad to hear that this helped!

[@melodyduan]

Thank you very much ❤

[@JacquelinePollauf]

You're welcome! Hope it helps.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Jacqueline Pollauf They're Steel Strings I think. Typically the Bass Strings on a Harp are Silk & Steel (Steel Core wound in Silk & another Metal).

[@buddyhalligan1921]

Nice job. Now I actually have to do this to my wife's harp.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I hope it goes well - good luck!

[@barbarafinkelstein7114]

Your tutorial is excellent. Thank you.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Glad you found it useful!

[@emilijabistrovaite2871]

Hello, I've bought an old, beautifully sounding harp, but the wire strings were all black so I decided to change the strings to find the notes more easily, but the new strings sound very metallic compared to the old ones, maybe you have any tips to reduce the metallic sound?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I would double check to make sure you bought wire strings that go with the type of the harp you have. It could also be that the new strings just sound quite different in contrast and will settle in shortly. Good luck!

[@angieharpist]

Hi, I have just changed my wire strings and within a month they have rusted/tarnished and look dreadful. They are silver plated and brand new! It was a new harp four years ago and my old strings never looked like this. What could be wrong and what can i do? They sound better but they look absolutely awful 😣

[@JacquelinePollauf]

You have not done anything wrong! Most likely what has happened is that your old wire strings were tarnish resistant and your new wire strings are not tarnish resistant. Both types of wire strings are available for purchase, and the non-tarnish resistant wire strings quickly do exactly what you're describing. They sound really good, but they look quite dilapidated! Hope this helps!

[@angieharpist]

@@JacquelinePollauf Wow thank you so much for that, it makes sense that the ones that came with the harp were tarnish resistant, i probably wouldn’t have bought the harp were they not! The sound the harp makes has to be priority for me as I have such an acute ear, but its such a shame they look so bad! Which strings do you go for? The look of the harp versus the sound of the strings?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

@@angieharpist Actually I don't find any problems with the sound of the tarnish resistant strings, so I use those. You could just wait until the next time you need to change your wire strings again and put on the tarnish resistant strings, or if it's really bothering you, you could go ahead and change them now.

[@angieharpist]

@@JacquelinePollauf ah ok I will probably change to tarnish resistant again at the next change as I will probably have had enough of looking at these ones by then! You’ve been immensely helpful and I appreciate it so much thank you Jacqueline 🙏💕

[@JacquelinePollauf]

@@angieharpist Glad I could help!