How Does an Autoharp Work?

The Autoharp is not a harp, but rather a part of the zither family — a chorded zither to be precise.

Also see:

• What is an Autoharp?

• Parts of the Autoharp + Terminology

Mechanics

The Autoharp is mostly made up of wood just like most stringed instruments. On the face of the instrument, referred to as a the sound board, a set of long, thin, wooden bars, called “chord bars,” are placed on top of the strings.

On either side of the chord bar holder is a series of tiny springs that allow the player to press the chord bar down (using the buttons/keys) and have them spring upward when released.

On the underside of each chord bar is a strip of thin, dense felt — typically adhered to the chord bar with a self-adhesive side. The felt on each chord bar has had grooves or notches cut out of the felt. These notches allow some strings to vibrate when the chord bar is pressed. Strings that are not part of a particular chord are then muted by the pressed chord bar’s felt — dampening the sound.

For example, the chord “D Major” or simply D, is made up of three notes: D, A and F#. When the chord bar cut for a D Major chord is pressed down, the notes D, A, F# are still able to vibrate, but all other notes—full and half tones (semitones)—will be muted/dampened.

Also see:

• Diatonic vs Chromatic

• What are Lock bars?