You Can Teach Yourself Autoharp

I did not get a lot out of this book. But I guess you have to start somewhere. Autoharps differ from maker to maker, and if you are a beginner it's hard to know which keys and which chords you are going to need. This book gives you a quick guide on how to transpose keys on music found in other books, but I found it doesn't work that well in practice. This is one area you have to use trial and error till you find what works. Surprisingly, learning to tune your autoharp will help you understand how transposing can work. The clapping exercises are interesting, but without a live coach they don't really help. I found a few really good lessons on u-tube. Just look up auto harp and you will find them too. I would reccomend The Complete Autoharp Manual by Orthey. While it is not a teach yourself guide, the information you get makes you better able to know how an autoharp works, so you can figure things out yourself. In my view, the best thing to start with if you already have an autoharp is 1. Get an electronic tuner and learn to tune your harp. (u-tube). 2. Memorize where the chord keys are on your harp (kinda like learning to type). Put a tiny drop of crazy glue on a center chord and let it dry rock hard so when your finger touches it you know where you are on the keyboard and can remember where the other chords are in relation to it. 3. Resist the temptation to learn all the strums at once. Start with one, and keep at it until you can do it well and feel comfortable playing in front of someone without making them cringe. 4. Practice playing a song on different parts of the harp. Every song is going to sound different and better depending on what part of the harp you are using with each chord. And each song will be different. Herein lays the artistry of playing the autoharp. 5. Start learning without singing along, so you can hear the harmony. The harp, if you hold it on your chest is very close to your ear and also vibrates through your chest wall, so sometimes this can play tricks on how you think it sounds. Try using a music earplug in your left ear and see if that helps. (about $13 on amazon) 6. When you decide you are ready to learn to pick and strum, go on UTube and view every video that shows strumming. One shows how to use each finger in each of the five sections of the harp. It goes by fast, but you can watch it as many times as you like. (Uh uh, You have to find it yourself by looking at the videos.) 7. Keep at it. Don't give up. Practice, practice, practice.

Autoharps aren't the rage they once were but my wife really wanted one and then requested some books to help her learn more about how to play it and take care of it. There aren't many new books about them so you have to look for older books and most were written by Meg Peterson. Look for a good price on these out of print books and find one that has the type of music you want to play on your autoharp. My wife loved all these books and it has helped her learn more about autoharp cords and how to play certain songs on the autoharp. She's learning how to play it much faster than I thought she'd be able to learn it and she's happy with the books I've purchased for her.

I recently purchased a used autoharp and got and got this book as a starting place. For the first couple of weeks it was very helpful, but the more advanced strum descriptions left me confused and frustrated. I think having a CD or DVD as an accompaniment to this book would make the whole thing make more sense.Still, I am glad I have it and I am still determined to work through the lessons in the hope that it will all become clearer as I work at it.

The step by step instructions are very easy to understand and made the autoharp much less intimidating.

As usual, Mel Bay hits it out of the park with this instruction book for the aotoharp. Instructors for autoharp are few and far between. This book fills a void that few music publishers have even tried to fill.

good

I purchased this based on other reviews. And they were right! If you patiently go thru the book (or hop around like me) you'll be playing simple tunes immediately. I love the fact that you learn different strum and syncopation styles as well. Once you do, you can be more creative on the easier pieces. My favorite in this book is The Sloop John B. Have fun!

A good textbook

I bought this as a present for a budding autoharp player. The feedback I have been given is that the book is very good. It is clear and keeps you interested and wanting to move forward to the next part. I did not realise when I bought it that the book can also be bought with a CD to accompany the exercises - I am told that the CD would have been a helpful supplement, especially in learning unfamiliar songs.

good

Covers all aspects of the autoharp very useful. Tells you a lot and some good music included.I Would recommend it.

It takes over half the book before the author finally shows the correct position to hold the autoharp upright.Prior to that, she has the beginner hold it completely wrong, crossing their hands as the harp lays on a desk or their lap.By then, they have memorized certain finger positions that they must now re-learn altogether.Terrible way to teach beginners how to play.Do yourself a favor, do NOT buy this book as there are many others out there far better (and cheaper).In the long run, you will save yourself a LOT of grief by avoiding this book.

Love the content, the songs, and layout of the songs...with words and chords and melodies...I can learn the melody of songs I do not know (unlike books with words and chords only which do not enable me to learn the new tunes!) Thank you!