I''ve been playing autoharp 52 years. I've gone to some jams and have gotten some rolling eyes over the years. When I start playing the eyes stop rolling and people really listen, They come up after the jam and say, "I've never heard an autoharp played liked that, it's beautiful!!" I host 2 jams a month. We play, Bluegrass, Gospel, and Old-Time String Band music.

Nice rendition of Hotel California. My partner pulled out her autoharp yesterday with the intention of selling it after not playing it for years. She tuned it up, and I started fooling around with it. I play guitar and banjo, so have some idea about picking, and was able to make it melodic after a few minutes. I enjoyed it-she's not going to sell it now!

My mum was the school teacher …..50 years ago I went into her classroom when I was a child and there was an autoharp that one of the other teachers had left behind. I started playing with it And really enjoyed myself, picking out tunes and melodies Unfortunately the next day the teacher from another school took it away. And I’ve never seen one since. This was great, reminded me of my childhood and my mum, thanks

John Sebastian played autoharp in a lot of the Lovin’ Spoonful records. That is how I was introduced to the instrument. It was 1965, my favorite year for music. Ever since, I’ve been amazed. Love the instrument and am please someone so young as yourself playing this beautiful instrument. Thanks for the video.

People saying that this isn't a real instrument is really stupid, because, in my opinion, if it makes sound, it's an instrument. Btw, I just love the way you play these not so known instruments, it's heavenly! Keep these videos up!

My grade school music teacher in the 1970s played autoharp during our music classes as the accompaniment while we sang.

This is the first time I’ve heard of an auto harp. I love it. I’d be thrilled to play any instrument that makes such beautiful music. Thank you for uploading.

I had access to one of these instruments when I was a small child. I at least get to know the difference between a major and a minor chord from playing around with one. The abridged chords is what on keep you from going too far on it. The Autoharp could be made more advanced if the chord buttons were based on the principle of the stradella bass machine seen on accordions. They have an additive principal to them (meaning more chord buttons are used to play a more sophisticated chord voicing C-Major + G-Minor = C9) while the chord damper bars on an autoharp have a subtractive nature (such as playing a C-G perfect fifth if you play the C-Major and the C-Minor at the same time).

Any of us that followed Bryan Bowers for years know how great it is to use the autoharp. Nice job.

I’m a guitarist and a non-elitist as far as music goes (I don’t care who or what it is, if it’s good I like it) and I think that sounds gorgeous!

Back in the very early ‘70s I bought a 21 chord autoharp at The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. At first I played like most did by just strumming the chords until one night, at the Earl of Old Town I saw Bryan Bowers play with finger picks in a kind of Travis style and I was forever changed. I played it for years, along with playing guitar and in fact played with a folk/country/rock/bluegrass band (you can find our album from 1976 here on KZfaq) and carved out a kind of niche doing sessions for rock bands as kind of filler to flesh out the arrangements. It was very good to me but I was getting away from it since I was getting more into playing guitar. Then one day I took it back to Old Town to get it restrung and tuned but when they told me the price (more than I had originally paid for it) I declined. I’ve had it ever since and it sits on a shelf in my studio. But watching this video has got me thinking about fixing it up and playing it again. And you play just how I remember Bryan Bower playing.

I saw one at a yard sale in February and was enthralled and am learning to play. It is grand!

Nice video! I'm amazed that anyone wouldn't know what the autoharp is; they were a staple in my elementary-school music classes. Of course, that was 60yrs ago, and we all know that most American lawmakers and school boards nowadays think that teaching anything in the arts is a waste of time and money, so no surprise that basic music education has been tossed so we can train American kids with "job skills" they can use until they're replaced by automation or AI. Anyway, thanks for the reminder about the fun of the autoharp.

Î fondly remember the autoharp being played in grade school music class!❤❤❤ It’s so cool to see it can be played wayy cooler than I ever thought! Thanks!❤❤✌🏻

Dear Jerrel fromAustralia. Thank you very much for your kind reply. Have been looking at your videos with much interest and they're all to be applauded. Looking at the various autoharp vids, yours is easily the one which has taught me the most, so very many thanks for that too. My 36 chord autoharp had 12 bars, and each bar had a three position lever so you could get an amazing variety of chords. Pretty good for 1890 something! All the Best, Jake.

WOW! That was the most beautiful Hotel California I've ever heard.

My mom had an autoharp. It made it easy to play chords for singing in Sunday School class. I only saw her play it once. That was the mid 60's.

As a music enthusiast I can say that song, without a doubt, is Darude Sandstorm

I simply love "modern" music played on instruments that folks don't normally associate with them. At one time ALL music was "modern" so why there isn't more expansion using unconventional (to modern standards) instruments is beyond me. Good job... keep it up! Cheers.

My school music teacher for grades 1-6 always brought his autoharp. I still remember a time when he had us kids play & strum in the 2nd grade

Mother Maybelle Carter was a great autoharp player in addition to being an innovative and influential guitarist and one of the founders of commercial country music. Check out her Mother Maybelle: Queen of the Auto Harp record on KZfaq, especially tracks 1, 6, and 7. Wildwood Flower is also on that record if you want to hear an example of her seminal guitar style.

I clicked this video because I love folk music and then smiled even more when you started playing Pink Floyd!

My family got an autoharp recently and we just ordered a tuner for it. I wanted to look up some videos to get a feel for what it is sounded like and holy- after this one I am excited to learn!

Very smart of you not to mention that song. The copy right holder likes to pull down anyone who plays their music. It sucks because I like hearing it on different instruments.

I played the autoharp 63 years ago (I was 11 years old) in the gymnasium of my school for the public annual Christmas presentation. Those days are shot!

About 10 years ago I got asked to a pub on a Saturday to play some old time with a long time afternoon group. The people that asked me were some serious Melbourne pub rock Royalty. I showed up with an upright bass and a dobro. I had a blast. One feller there with a beautiful autoharp he'd been playing intrigued me. As many of the people present had VERY unique looking instruments, especially the banjo players, it became obvious that they had made them themselves....beautiful, unique and no branding on them. So having mucked about with an autoharp when I was first learning guitar age 7-9 I asked the feller about his harp. Turned out he'd made it it himself. Yes, and the tuners and the fine tuners, and the dampers (more chords than a piano accordion). I asked him "Do you just chord along " (or do you solo on individual notes) I was stopped mid sentence by a Harpo Marx style lick played with five fingers across all the strings. Not a real instrument? Don't waste my time!

Singing around the piano or in the woods around the campfire...brings back great memories. Thanks!

What a lovely guy. Good luck to you.

The songs were "wish you were here" by Pink Floyd and "Hotel California" by the Eagles, I think

It took me an embarrassingly long time to hear Hotel California! As a 9 year old, I got a toy version of an autoharp, but without the chord buttons. Never was able to make any real music with it. Now that I watched this video, I understand how a real one works. Wow, what I missed!

I love it! Your playing style is cool. If it sounds good, it’s music. If you love playing it, you’ll making art. Thanks for sharing this!

I have never heard anyone play it like you are. Love it!

We actually have my neighbour’s old autoharp lying around, I might have to show my daughter your tutorials!!

Great! The Autoharp is versatile. No dusty bars here -- mine leads the singing in church (smile).

Excellent video! I've been playing autoharp ever since Joni Mitchell made the dulcimer popular because of her "Blue" album. I wanted a third instrument, but dulcimer was taken, so I went for the autoharp because my aunt had one she gave me. I was overjoyed to learn that you can play MELODIES on one. By pinching the thumb and a finger (or both) at the same time, the treble note is the melody note. Autoharp is subtractive, like sculpture. It plays any kind of music. It's like a small piano.

That extract from "Hotel California" was the coolest use I have ever seen of one of these!

Fantastic overview! I really enjoyed hearing you play. Thank you!

I'm inspired to try something more difficult than just strumming !

The idea of doing some irish pub songs on this is really inspiring. I remember hearing a band called the Brobdingnagian Bards... and this made me realize they put played an autoharp and put it to good use. Nice Hotel California, btw. 😎

3:48 He looks so happy in these few moments. You can see him in a state of happiness and calm.

Beautiful

Well, I'm sold. Gonna be on the lookout for one

You play beautifully! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Beautiful ✨

Wonderful! I am so glad you took this up!

This was really cool and strangely nostalgic. My father played an Autoharp (as well as many other instruments), when I was a little boy in the 60’s. I remember the Autoharp sounding magical though. He showed me how to push the chord buttons and strum chords. I was instantly playing “music”! I know that was the very first instrument I’d ever picked up, I must have been 6 years old then. Decades went by and I was a drummer and guitarist in rock bands, the Autoharp a distant memory. In fact, I thought the Autoharp was some ancient instrument that faded away in the 60’s and any surviving examples would be antiques long forgotten. But then I saw your video recommendation and thought, “Autoharps are still around?! Cool! I need to hear it again!” Man, you really brought back memories. Nothing on this planet sounds like an autoharp and that sound is stored in my old dusty memory banks. So glad that the autoharp is still alive and I’ll be listening for it to sneak into the music scene again. Thanks man, very cool! 🤙🏼🍻🎼🎸

Clicked on the video because I thought the girl in the thumbnail looked cute, was wildly disappointed but then stayed for the autoharp

When I started learning autoharp we did play with about 30 of us together, so it was an autoharp orchestra

I had a lot of music teachers in elementary school who used these.

John Mellencamp used one on an album and also in an accompanying video. Can't recall the album right now. It added a cool richness to the sound.

Check out my lesson videos on how to play autoharp: kzfaq.info/sun/PLLiqLEnxFlqLcZDSKKBvUyF21MhNhIAnN I'll be adding more videos over time!

I remember these from grade school! I'm a songwriter who mostly just loves playing the drums. I've been looking for an instrument that is simple (and melodic) enough for me to accompany myself with singing. I think autoharp is a great option--thanks for this!

Now that is about the best rendition of Hotel California I've ever heard. Very cool sound. 💖

Thank you so much foe overview and demonstration. I think this instrument would be great to learn.

Thank you.

Thank you, this was very informative!

excellent! I went to an open mike at the Crossroads Mall (near Seattle, WA) and the emcee that night was a lady named Barbara, who played autoharp. she played it well. at one point she said she was going to play an Irish jig on it. I’m thinking, “sure you are!” damn if she didn’t! she did things like you talk about in this video, but taken to the extreme. by the time she was done, and all of us picked up our bruised chins from the table, I had changed my mind entirely about the autoharp. still can’t afford one, but I have lots of instruments I already play (to one degree or another), so I’m happy enough trying for moderate proficiency on the rest.

Beauiful sounding instrument!!! Thank-you

When I was growing up in the 2010s and getting more exposed to 60s tunes, I once saw a video of John Sebastian playing one and I’ve wanted one ever since.

Very well presented & played - Yes, now I want one :)

I have played Autoharp since 1975 and have had the same one all these years. I am 70 years old now and I wonder if anyone is making a carbon fiber Autoharp or one that is lighter weight. I also wish that someone would make an Autoharp with more than 21 chords on it. I have always wondered why there is a limitation on the number of chord bars. Yes I suppose a bigger Autoharp would require more strings and be more difficult to hold and, yes, weigh more. But being able to play in a few more keys would be very nice.

That was awesome! Nice job!

You are my auto harp I push every button on your body I push the A minor, the E flat, the F major And especially the C sharp 7

Great video, very inspiring cheers!

Very cool!

Yes, very interesting to me, many thanks for posting, a very eloquent presentation 🎼🙏🏼🏔❤️

Yes!!!! Eagles Hotel California. Love it.

Thank you. Hotel California is a favourite of mine and this would be so good to hear in a jam session.

A video I came across awhile back about the autoharp that is amazing to watch here on KZfaq is titled 'Mother Maybelle Carter Auto Harp solo (1970). You did a very good job yourself young man.

Great job of your demonstration of the dulcimer! Bravo...

My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Crews played one. I'm 66, haven't seen one in decades. Still remember her teaching us 'This Land is Your Land..."

Well done!!

Thank you for sharing this! This is a great instrument to let loose and have fun playing music. I found a chromaharp in great condition at a second hand store and it has given me many hours of musical joy. I look forward to seeing more videos on this!

The tip about mixing the fingerpicks was useful. Thanks for that.

Thanks so much. Just got a nice used one.

This is finally - insightful. Congrats, Jerrel.

Thanks, very cool

I'm impressed. Can't believe people still chasing sounds. Just use it as a standalone on camping trips and such.

Sounds really great!👍👍👍

You're right, I do want an autoharp now

This is awesome! Hotel California 😊

Thanks so much for doing this video! When I was a kid (55 years ago), we had a simple autoharp. I learned to strum chords on it. Kinda boring and we didn't have electronic tuners at the time so it never sounded all that great. Was stunned to watch you play Appalachian style and "pinch" melodies and decided I had to have one! A good one. I was fortunate to find a 21 chord vintage Oscar Schmidt on eBay that a long-time teacher refurbished and put on new strings on my request. I taught myself accordion by ear, which combines chords with melody so was able to figure out how to pluck out songs we sang at camp, in church and in grade school. Just so much fun! I'll get better technique in time but sure is a beautiful sounding instrument that isn't hard to learn. Look forward to watching all your other videos.

Very nice! I picked up a 21-chord Korean-made "Chromaharp" at a pawnshop a couple of months ago and have been watching KZfaq autoharp videos ever since. However, almost all of these videos feature the 15-chord types. I was beginning to think I'd bitten off more than I can chew! Keep up the good work!

You've really got the knack for playing this instrument. I'm guessing you are proficient on several instruments. It's great how you can go up and down across all the strings for the different chord inversions. We had autoharps when I was a kid in school and they were quite popular.

Dude! You have some mad skills!

Bohemian Rasphody, nice. I listened to that song when reading a book and it just feels like it gooes with that book.

You are totally talented Jerrell!

So an autoharp is an easier way to play guitar the way I already do! Neat!

I love my autoharps!

Great playing. Thanks for the video. I recently purchased one of these autoharps from a pawn shop. My Oscar Schmidt autoharp has 36 strings and 15 chords. I am looking forward checking out your videos on learning to play the autoharp.

Wow man this is an amazing instrument. I had never heard of or seen one until now. You have really mastered it in just one year. Beautiful rendition of Hotel California 👏❤️ thank you for this great video

Thats Hotel California by the Eagles. The chords are unmistakable. I play guitar but I play Old Time but it was hard to miss that.

Great video 😎

I love your doggy ❤️

You've added one more bit to my musical education and and appreciation. Once I heard the examples I felt certain I'd heard autoharp in recordings before and all the references in the comments confirmed that impression. I've surely heard some of them and perhaps a few others not listed here but I now believe I'll identify autoharp when I hear it in future. As to "real" instruments, I think anyone who believes the autoharp is not is probably the same kind of person who thinks that only someone who paints on a canvas is an artist.

I remember my first grade music teacher used to play one. He'd play, and us little first graders would sing Michael Row Your Boat Ashore and others.

Hotel CA - that was hilarious! And quite beautiful. I don’t hate many things in this world but that song is up near the top of the shortlist, so I was surprised and delighted to find myself really enjoying the song and wanting to hear more. Rock on, zithers, rock on, Jerrel!

I feel like I learned something 😮thanks 😊

Wow, I’m very impressed, I would love to see a tutorial on getting started. I’ve played a number of instruments over these many years and this would be one more very enjoyable achievement. Thanks so much for sharing.

Thanks. I've always wanted an autoharp, but never ran across one. I'm 58, & way back in elementary school, there was a beautiful young lady who came to our school a few times a year. She had an autoharp most of the time. But for Halloween, she would play records & draw with color chalk on the blacboard. tavi.