How to Tune Your Harp
- Set every pedal to the top position (pedal harp) or every lever down (lever harp) first, so each string sounds open.
- Tap Start Tuning, pluck one string, and turn its tuning pin with the tuning key until the tuner shows In tune. Small turns are enough.
- Start in the middle of the harp and work outward one string at a time. Use the colored strings as landmarks: every C string is red, and every F string is black or dark blue.
- When you finish, play each C against the next C up. Octaves in tune sound clean, without a wobble.
Which Key to Tune In
Pedal harps are tuned in C♭ major, with every pedal in the top (flat) position. The tuner names notes with flats, and shows C♭ as B and F♭ as E, because they are the same pitches.
Lever harps are most often tuned in E♭ major, with the B, E, and A strings flat and the levers down. That gives the most keys with a full set of levers. Some players tune a lever harp in C major instead, which is simpler but leaves only sharp keys. If you are not sure, ask your teacher or the harp's maker.
| String | Pedal Harp (C♭ Major) | Lever Harp (E♭ Major) |
|---|---|---|
| C (red) | C♭, shown as B | C |
| D | D♭ | D |
| E | E♭ | E♭ |
| F (black or blue) | F♭, shown as E | F |
| G | G♭ | G |
| A | A♭ | A♭ |
| B | B♭ | B♭ |
New strings stretch for days and keep going flat, and gut and nylon strings also move with temperature and humidity. Expect to retune every time you play, and more often with new strings.