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types of harps

two main types of harps

(scroll down to see pictures of the harps)

LEVER HARPS ------>

<------ PEDAL HARPS

Harps differ in sizes, styles, weight, range of notes, and many more. However, the two main types of harps are

lever harps and pedal harps. 

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PEDAL HARPS have pedals that are used to change the pressure of the strings, thus changing the pitch of the string. The pedals have 3 positions/slots; when the pedal is up, the string changes a semitone higher, when the pedal is in the middle, it is neutral (C major), and when the pedal is down, the string changes a semitone lower. There are 7 pedals on a pedal harp, one for each key : C D E F G A B.  Pedal harps are also bigger, heavier, and has more strings than lever harps. It is the type of harp that is used in concerts because it has a bigger range and is more complete. 

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LEVER HARPS have levers that are used to change the pressure of the strings, thus changing the pitch of the string. Lever harps are tuned in Eb major. The levers have 2 positions; up and down. When a lever is up, the string changes pitch by a semitone higher. When a lever is down, the string changes pitch by a semitone lower. Lever harps ranges from a quite small size that can be carried to bigger ones slightly similar to pedal harps. 

some harp models...

lever harp

Hermes-mogano.jpg

large 

lever harp

unnamed%20(3)_edited.jpg

Lap harp

Minerva-natural-375x686.jpg

Pedal harp

1LH-STYLE-23-GOLD-CONCERT-GRAND-600x750.

GOld

pedal harp

Rainbow_SG.jpg

pedal harp

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