Interesting to learn that there are left-handed autoharps. Failing to be able to play the autoharp by holding it up in the usual manner, I discovered that I could play by putting the autoharp on a table and standing up in front of it with the chord bars to my right. I do the strumming with my left hand and press the chord bars down with my right hand. I have a d'Aigle Tahoma and a fairly recent 21-chord Oscar Schmidt as well as the first autoharp that I bought used for $200 about 10 years ago -- a 15-chord Oscar Schmidt from the 1970s. Each one has a different chord bar arrangement. Each one has a distinctive sound. I especially like the F#m on the Tahoma. My playing is on the primitive side but the music I can make with my autoharps brings me joy. I had a fourth autoharp, also an Oscar Schmidt, but gave it away to a 12-year-old Sudanese refugee who spoke no English but clearly had an immediate affinity for the autoharp. I taught him the little I know and showed him how to do the tuning. I imagine that his playing has far surpassed mine and that he is able to playing it holding it up in the usual manner.

Just found you loved this

Hi Hal, good to see you!

Thanks, great video

Great video!! As always of course! I just purchased a new AH music book & Golden Slippers is in it. I planned on learning it first from the book and here it is! How cool is that? I remember years ago a friend of mine and myself were sitting at a piano bar and had the pianist play this song and we sang along...always has been one of favourites....Thanks Hal!!...BTW, as an avid counted cross stitching and needlepoint lady, my guess to the fabric shown here is soft Vinyl Weave cross stitch fabric....the rubbery type of shelf liner can also be used for this purpose if it's not too sticky. I bet the vinyl weave could also be used across the shoulder and/or lap to help keep the harp upright & not slide when sitting down.....Hope this helps! Happy New Year Hal from (not too far) north of the 49th!

I think it’s stuff to keep area rugs from slipping on the floor.

It could be a mesh shelf liner.

I enjoy playing my autoharp as a lap harp. And it is comfortable for me to cross hands. I don't mind that the pattern is oriented differently than when I'm playing it upright. That may be because I am so new to playing that nothing is automatic muscle memory yet. I still have to think to play, but the pattern makes sense in borh orientations. Am I making life too hard for myself, or should I just choose one way and stick with it?

I just found an autoharp in a pawn shop. It didn't have picks. What kind of picks should I get?

How much are your lefty autoharps?