I’ve never played anything stringed unless you count a piano. I have really no extra money right now, but I plan on buying something stringed when I do. I like harps, hammered dulcimers, hurdy gurdies, and nyckelharpas. Since I doubt I’ll ever be able to afford them all or learn to play them all properly, I need to pick one.
If anyone can offer any assistance in the picking process, I’d be much appreciative.
edited to repair my my grammar
Ever tried a bul-bul, a.k.a. Indian banjo? They are sort of like a strummed version of a hurdy gurdy or nyckelharpa. I doubt the quality is very high, but they can be had for $50-$75.
Truth is, I like every one of the instruments you mention. The harp is lovely, but its sound is on the quiet side, which can be a drawback if you wish to play with other instruments. Also, the tuning process on the harp will be a lifetime vocation. The hurdy gurdy is a wonderful beastie, and I hope you take it up. But I don’t know how much maintenance it takes. Nyckelharpas are hard to come by and astronomical in price, but a lovely instrument.
Walden wrote:
"The harp is lovely, but its sound is on the quiet side, which can be a drawback if you wish to play with other instruments. Also, the tuning process on the harp will be a lifetime vocation. "
I agree with the first part of your statement: The sound of a small harp usually is on the quiet side, unless you play wire-strung harp. But I have played nice duets with violin, and last St. Pat’s played with guitar, violin, and flute.
However, “tuning…a lifetime vocation”: That all depends on what harp you have and where you keep it. I have a 29-string Musicmakers design which my husband built 8 years ago. It has a neck/pillar of maple ply and an aircraft birch soundboard. It is remakable stable. I do abuse it, since the only place in my home I have to keep it is near a heat register (a BIG No-No!), yet I rarely have to re-tune it. I use an electronic tuner when I do, and it takes less than 2 minutes, since there are usually only a couple strings that need tweaking.
I also have a 26-string Musicmakers design of solid cherry that is strung with wire, and the nature of the wire strings does call for more tuning. But still less than 2 minutes, and not every day or time I play. Variances in humidity and temperature have effects on the tuning.
If you have a good quality harp, and you keep it under good conditions (which goes for most stringed instruments, IMO), tuning should not be too awful.
I do agree the price of nyckelharpas is daunting, to say the least, but I’d rather wait and spend more money if that’s what I decide I should get than get something I mightn’t be happy with. It’s just so hard deciding what I’d be happy with. 
I’m sure you’re right. I tend to be overly concerned with tuning, and to retune more often than a lot of people do. Speaking of which, I need to tune my Autoharp up.
Walden, you play Autoharp in addition to all else? What do you have? I still have my OS 45. Someday maybe I’ll spring for one of those homemade jobs. There’s a guy in Michigan who builds very good ones. In fact I liked playing them better then Ortheys. It’s good to hear that I’m not the only one who has multitudes. Other then the Mountain Dulcimer I play them all.
I have a 1960’s Oscar Schmidt 12A.
How long does it take to tune a harp?
Nobody knows.
It’s not an Irish trad instrument, but I think there are similarities between the whisle and the ukulele. They’re small, they make a cute high pitched sound, they get no respect, they make people smile.
Check out www.flea-mkt-music.com for a look.
A plucked or “strummed” lap dulcimer might be a good bet. They have from 4 to 6 strings, including several drone strings. They are great for playing Appalachian (properly pronounced apple atch an by North Carolina mountain residents) folk tunes that were inspired by celtic tunes
If you get the opportunity to travel to Blowing Rock, NC this summer, stop by the Dulcimer shop. It is owned by a family I knew in Atlanta. I once took dulcimer lessons from them.
Paulsdad
Thank you pausdad for throwing in that about pronunciation of our region.
We say it the same way here in sw VA too!
Thank you pausdad for throwing in that about pronunciation of our region.
We say it the same way here in sw VA too!
We do here, too.
Holy Guacamole! I had no idea that there were more than 50 folks in the US who knew what this thing is!
I had the good fortune to learn my Scandi fiddlin’ from one of the best nyckelharpa and fiddle players out there, Bart Brashers. Bart is a very cool dude and is probably the biggest importer of 'harpa in the US, he’s living in Seattle now and if you want a 'harpa then let me know and I can put you in touch with him. The price is not astronomical…although using the whistle as a point of comparison, just about every instrument is! 
Spelman Karlsson
PS–Anyone play the Hardingfele? I’ve got one of those instruments and while it’s hard as heck to play, (tuning is a nightmare too) the sound is absolutely haunting.
Have you heard of the American Nyckelharpa Association? On their “Roster” page, they say they know of 151 North Americans who play the nyckelharpa. I first heard it played on a Vasen album I bought on a whim.
I’ve actually been to that site before. Hunting for anorexic sites (Ana), oddly enough. If you do enough searches, you hit that sight a couple times because they share a name, LOL.
I’ve heard it said that it’s like Eve said to the serpent, “You behave, or I’ll throw this apple at’cha.”
I love her.
Have you heard of the American Nyckelharpa Association? On their “Roster” page, they say they know of 151 North Americans who play the nyckelharpa. I first heard it played on a Vasen album I bought on a whim.
OK, I’m not sure how a CD cover wound up in this post…but back to the nyckelharpa thing.
Of course I know about the ANA:
My buddy founded it!
Even if I was off in my estimation by a factor of 3, it’s still funny to think that out of a nation of 275 million I would run into a couple of the (literally) one-in-a-million folks familiar with it…small world, no?
Heja Sverige!
PC
Yesterday I dug out a CD by Carrie Crompton from it’s hiding place. She is a wonderul player and can get around on the thing playing mainly baroque music. Another great player is Alan Freeman, if you can find any recordings by him. He has a varied repetoire and can play fiddle tunes as well as Duke Ellington tunes. The dulcimer is great for playing Appalachian music but is capable of going way beyond it. For southern old time music, Don Pedi is great.
Steve
Well, actually, your estimate of one in a million is based on the number of people who PLAY the thing, but I’m sure lots of other people (me, for instance, and my wife too) know about it without playing it. For those willing to actually tackle it and learn how to play it, I salute you! I’ll just stick to listening…
Steven