#61 Getting a lot more use from your two row 15 chord bar harp!
A chromatic harp player using a 15 bar harp will have to make some concessions, because (s)he'll not have as many chords as a 21 bar harp. But more than that, the standard factory 15 bar chord layout is not as well arranged as a 21 bar autoharp for being user-friendly.
Oscar Schmidt and Chromaharp 15 bar harps actually leave a lot to be desired due to their poor chord bar arrangement. It has never changed through all the years they've been made, except for certain models which are not available today. So, it's prudent to alter the poor layout to make it far more user-friendly!
Let's discuss the two row re-arrangement that I find makes the most sense for chromatic playing. The row of 8 bars on the bass string side consists of all Major chords, except the very bottom "B7" chord. These chords are arranged so that as long as you have one chord bar OVER, and one chord bar UNDER whichever chord you press, you will find that the I, IV, V chords surround each other in a consistent pattern. This allows you to be able to play in the EXACT SAME FINGERING PATTERN for the 6 keys of: A, C, D, E, F, and G! Far better than what the factory provides!
Here's what the new re-arrangement of bars looks like:
(top of harp)
Bb
Dm
F
Am
C
G7
G
D7
D
A7
A
E7
E
Em
B7
(bottom of harp)
Now, factory 15 bar Oscar harps and Chromaharps don't even have "A" chords, or "E" chords. This re-arrangement will require you to refelt at least 6 bars from the standard Oscar Schmidt layout to be able to layout the bars as shown. And you will have to change the identity on the buttons of some of the original bars that will be used to convert to what is shown. Scraping off the old marking and using a magic marker is all it takes to correct for new button labeling. You will have to refelt some of the bars that are on the treble row to reposition them on the bass end row. That's better than trying to unsuccessfully break of buttons and re-cement them to change their positions.
The row of 7 bars on the treble side give you a good proximity of the 7th chords to their related major chord. The reason the "B7" bar is alone in the bottom of the row of major chords is because it is the V chord for the key of "E," and it is much better to use it as a 7th chord, since it has no V chord available to play in the key of "B."
With the Minor chords as shown, you will be able to play in the keys of Am and Em.
If you choose do create the above arrangement, you'll now be able to play in many more keys than a standard 15 bar harp, and since the fingering pattern will now be the same for all keys, there is less effort in playing!
The "E" chord can use some improvement in sound, since it is missing a necessary "3" note in the lower octave. You can enrich the sound simply by changing the tuning of the 8 lowest strings: Tuning the low "F" up to the "G" immediately to its right ... and each successive string to the higher note immediately to its right, until you end up with two "G" strings at number 7 and 8. What was the original "G" string is NOW TUNED TO "G#' ... and THAT is the missing "3" note that will greatly enhance the sound of your new "E" chord!
BTW, this string tuning change can enhance any autoharp that does not
have that note, whether a 15 or 21 chord model. You can have a richer
sounding "E" chord on any autoharp by adding that "G#" note!
If you make this change, of course you will have to refelt all affected chord bars to accommodate the new tunings. But it's ALL WORTH IT! You only have to do it once, and then reap the benefits ever after!
I'm telling you all this because I chose to do it many years ago, and I have never ever regretted it! It means so much to be able to play and sing in all those keys that were formerly unavailable.
The above is my "short version" of doing this chord bar re-arrangement, --- but you can receive free, in the mail my much more comprehensive tutorial, just for your cost of sending me a SASE with 60 cents postage.
And I can help you with REFELTING STRIPS should you choose to make these changes. New prices for 15 bar models are now $29.00 per set, and 21 bar models are $34.00 per set (each set comes with one extra strip for good measure). Add $4.50 for P&H Priority Mail.
Get ready for the FESTIVAL SEASON!
Drew Smith
c/o Great All-American Autoharp Emporium
529 Ardmore Road, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423 / 201 444-2833
drewharpsmith at netzero.net
I need your home address to be able to mail you my catalog. Some of the best darn Autoharp items at G-R-E-A-T prices! 15 & 21 bar refelt strips / OSI "A" & "B" string sets in stock! * All above come with complete instructions! *
New, perfect, SOLID SPRUCE TOP - OS73C - 21 chord harp
(1930's Reissue model) at a really low, low price!
**********************************************************
SPECIAL NOTE: The great 3 CD set "AUTOHARP LEGACY" is immediately available from stock I have .... $22.00 POSTPAID. 55 of the world's FINEST PLAYERS in this THREE CD set! Comes with a four-color 20 page booklet with info on all players. Just need a check to my name. (Price is for US orders)
**********************************************************
NEW: See Drew Smith's TEACHING OPTIONS
... or, search for a Teacher in your area through this site.
**********************************************************
Oscar Schmidt and Chromaharp 15 bar harps actually leave a lot to be desired due to their poor chord bar arrangement. It has never changed through all the years they've been made, except for certain models which are not available today. So, it's prudent to alter the poor layout to make it far more user-friendly!
Let's discuss the two row re-arrangement that I find makes the most sense for chromatic playing. The row of 8 bars on the bass string side consists of all Major chords, except the very bottom "B7" chord. These chords are arranged so that as long as you have one chord bar OVER, and one chord bar UNDER whichever chord you press, you will find that the I, IV, V chords surround each other in a consistent pattern. This allows you to be able to play in the EXACT SAME FINGERING PATTERN for the 6 keys of: A, C, D, E, F, and G! Far better than what the factory provides!
Here's what the new re-arrangement of bars looks like:
(top of harp)
Bb
Dm
F
Am
C
G7
G
D7
D
A7
A
E7
E
Em
B7
(bottom of harp)
Now, factory 15 bar Oscar harps and Chromaharps don't even have "A" chords, or "E" chords. This re-arrangement will require you to refelt at least 6 bars from the standard Oscar Schmidt layout to be able to layout the bars as shown. And you will have to change the identity on the buttons of some of the original bars that will be used to convert to what is shown. Scraping off the old marking and using a magic marker is all it takes to correct for new button labeling. You will have to refelt some of the bars that are on the treble row to reposition them on the bass end row. That's better than trying to unsuccessfully break of buttons and re-cement them to change their positions.
The row of 7 bars on the treble side give you a good proximity of the 7th chords to their related major chord. The reason the "B7" bar is alone in the bottom of the row of major chords is because it is the V chord for the key of "E," and it is much better to use it as a 7th chord, since it has no V chord available to play in the key of "B."
With the Minor chords as shown, you will be able to play in the keys of Am and Em.
If you choose do create the above arrangement, you'll now be able to play in many more keys than a standard 15 bar harp, and since the fingering pattern will now be the same for all keys, there is less effort in playing!
The "E" chord can use some improvement in sound, since it is missing a necessary "3" note in the lower octave. You can enrich the sound simply by changing the tuning of the 8 lowest strings: Tuning the low "F" up to the "G" immediately to its right ... and each successive string to the higher note immediately to its right, until you end up with two "G" strings at number 7 and 8. What was the original "G" string is NOW TUNED TO "G#' ... and THAT is the missing "3" note that will greatly enhance the sound of your new "E" chord!
BTW, this string tuning change can enhance any autoharp that does not
have that note, whether a 15 or 21 chord model. You can have a richer
sounding "E" chord on any autoharp by adding that "G#" note!
If you make this change, of course you will have to refelt all affected chord bars to accommodate the new tunings. But it's ALL WORTH IT! You only have to do it once, and then reap the benefits ever after!
I'm telling you all this because I chose to do it many years ago, and I have never ever regretted it! It means so much to be able to play and sing in all those keys that were formerly unavailable.
The above is my "short version" of doing this chord bar re-arrangement, --- but you can receive free, in the mail my much more comprehensive tutorial, just for your cost of sending me a SASE with 60 cents postage.
And I can help you with REFELTING STRIPS should you choose to make these changes. New prices for 15 bar models are now $29.00 per set, and 21 bar models are $34.00 per set (each set comes with one extra strip for good measure). Add $4.50 for P&H Priority Mail.
Get ready for the FESTIVAL SEASON!
Drew Smith
c/o Great All-American Autoharp Emporium
529 Ardmore Road, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423 / 201 444-2833
drewharpsmith at netzero.net
I need your home address to be able to mail you my catalog. Some of the best darn Autoharp items at G-R-E-A-T prices! 15 & 21 bar refelt strips / OSI "A" & "B" string sets in stock! * All above come with complete instructions! *
New, perfect, SOLID SPRUCE TOP - OS73C - 21 chord harp
(1930's Reissue model) at a really low, low price!
**********************************************************
SPECIAL NOTE: The great 3 CD set "AUTOHARP LEGACY" is immediately available from stock I have .... $22.00 POSTPAID. 55 of the world's FINEST PLAYERS in this THREE CD set! Comes with a four-color 20 page booklet with info on all players. Just need a check to my name. (Price is for US orders)
**********************************************************
NEW: See Drew Smith's TEACHING OPTIONS
... or, search for a Teacher in your area through this site.
**********************************************************
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