Replacing a Nylon Harp String, Harp Care, Maintenance, and Repair #11

Many new harpists are daunted by the prospect of changing a broken string, but this video demonstrates in step by step instructions how to replace a nylon string on a lever harp. Using a Troubadour harp as a model, a lower (thicker) and higher (thinner) nylon string are both replaced.
00:00 Introduction
1:30 Tools needed
2:39 Replacing a low register (thick) nylon string (removing the string, preparing the harp, tying a knot, threading the string through the harp, winding around the tuning pin, tuning the string, clipping off the excess)
5:27 Tying a knot in a low register (thick) nylon string
10:17 Replacing a high register (thin) nylon string (removing the string, preparing the harp, tying a knot with an anchor, threading the string through the harp, winding around the tuning pin with locking, tuning the string, clipping off the excess)
12:20 Tying a knot in a high register (thin) nylon string with an anchor
Other string changing videos:
How to Determine the Correct Replacement String:
• How to Determine the C...
Replacing a Gut String:
• Replacing a Gut Harp S...
Replacing a Wire String:
• Replacing a Wire Harp ...
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.

[@evasanchezcarreres2460]

You are doing a huge work for harp students like me! Thank you for sharing your explanations and for your inspirational videos!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

So glad to hear it's helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@realitycheck1870]

The BEST demonstration of making those pesky knots, step by step with great explanation, and zooming in the camera to show exactly what you have done. Well done! Thank you very much!

[@aishuakella474]

It usually takes me five tries to get that knot😂

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thanks so much! It can be really tricky to get the camera at a good angle, but I am doing my best!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

@@aishuakella474 That can happen! When I first started tying knots in high school, it would take me ages!

[@dancingheart6224]

Thank you for making these videos. Many harpists don't tell you how to do these things.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

My pleasure! I hope you find it helpful.

[@andrewdebevec9581]

Another novice harpist saying thank you! I really appreciate the explanation of the knot and the fact that it may be “loose” because of the stiffness of the nylon. Those 5th octave As are tough.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

You're welcome! Yes, 5th octave nylon strings do not want to bend or stay in the knot shape, so they can feel quite strange. I hope your string changing is going well!

[@aishuakella474]

Thank you so much for this!!! I fixed my first string today!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

So glad to hear it!

[@twohoursintotuesday]

This video has helped me soooo much i come back to it each time a string breaks lol

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I'm so happy to hear that!

[@AbsurdHeroine]

Thank you so much! Replaced my very first sting today with your help. ❤ You made it so clear and easy to follow.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I'm so happy to hear that! Glad your string replacement was a success.

[@patrickdeblasi5740]

You are so good at explaining the technical side of the harp. Though I don’t have a harp yet, YET, I just have this need to know how everything works - especially musical instruments. I used to work Saturdays at my friend’s music store - somehow he got it in his head that I knew how to fix instruments. So he always gave them to me to fix, restring, grease tuning slides, etc. Restringing was always stressful because I always thought I was going to end up with too much string wound around the pin when I was done and have to start over. I got over that real quick when he gave me an auto harp that needed to be restrung completely! Lol keep posting the videos I’m learning a lot! We all are. Thank you! Patrick

[@JacquelinePollauf]

That's great to hear that you've spent so much time with instruments! I'm glad you're enjoying learning about the harp.

[@danahall8470]

Thank you for helping me replace my string!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

You're welcome - I'm glad the video helped!

[@sinapisalba]

i did it!! my first broken and replaced string :-D great video, thank you ♥

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I'm so excited to hear this! It's really annoying to try and play around a broken string. Congrats on replacing it!

[@floki5153]

cool erklährt... super !!!!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you so much!

[@euniceshepherd9651]

Very well explained!!!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Thank you!

[@sarahdarnell]

so helpful! thank you!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

You're welcome!

[@carmenfreeman693]

Thank you very much for your instruction.😊🙏

[@JacquelinePollauf]

My pleasure!

[@carmenfreeman693]

@@JacquelinePollauf , your instruction allowed me to fix my first broken string too. Thank you! Now, I need to watch how to restring the steel strings and the high notes. Again, I appreciate your instruction. Many thanks! 🙏 ❤

[@JacquelinePollauf]

@@carmenfreeman693 I'm so pleased that you were able to replace your first broken string! Excellent news!

[@celestinac1105]

Thank you!!!

[@JacquelinePollauf]

You're welcome!

[@annagrig2315]

Any chance you could do this for carbon strings? This is not my first time changing strings, but carbon seems to be very fiddly with regards to how slippery it is and how incredibly stretch and easy to mess up at first it is.

[@JacquelinePollauf]

I had not thought of carbon strings! I will add to my list (which does not necessarily mean that I'll get to right away, but hopefully eventually). Thanks for the idea!

[@waltmallory8593]

I am restringing an old 22 string lap harp. The tuning pins on some are loose. How do you fix a loose tuning pin?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Most tuning pins are tapered, so over time they can work loose. Usually to fix this you can just push in, fairly forcefully, as you turn the tuning pin. I would try that first and if it still doesn't work, sometimes people lightly hammer them back into place, although this should be done cautiously. Good luck!

[@iankivell7997]

Hi Jacqueline, thank you for a great video. I replaced a 4th octave B string on my L&H Troubadour but there are too many winds on the peg now and they are getting too close to the body of the harp. The string continues to be flat, and I don't want to wind it any longer. Do you have advice on how to approach this problem?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

This is a problem that does come up from time to time, especially with the lower nylon strings. The solution is to unwind it, pull it through the tuning pin again, and rewind it. Generally when you do this, you'll find that the string has stretched some so you can pull more of it through the pin and it will not need to wind around as many times. It's on my list to make a supplemental video of string changing tips at tricks (at some point!) I will add this to the list of things to address. Thanks for watching!

[@iankivell7997]

Thank you so much for the quick reply! It worked :)

[@JacquelinePollauf]

@@iankivell7997 Excellent!

[@samanthathompson9812]

What do you think about leaving slack for the higher strings?

[@JacquelinePollauf]

Generally you do not need to leave slack for the higher strings. Pulling them taut works before turning works fine!

[@samanthathompson9812]

@@JacquelinePollauf Thanks, appreciate this!

[@shirodorian]

A closeup would really help...

[@phanessastarkey7346]

gee thanks lol