autoharp

An autoharp is a chorded zither, a stringed instrument in which pressing a chord bar automatically dampens strings not part of the chosen chord while the sounded strings are plucked or strummed. The instrument is played by selecting a chord with one hand and strumming or plucking with the other.

Most autoharps have a wooden body with a soundboard, a neck containing a grid of chord bars, and a set of parallel strings that run to a tailpiece. Typical models include 36 strings and 9 to 16 chord bars, which cover major, minor, and seventh chords. Chord bars are labeled with the chord name, allowing players to produce full chords without fingering individual notes. The bars activate a dampening mechanism that silences all strings not belonging to the chosen chord.

Autoharps originated from the chord zither family in Europe in the late 19th century and were popularized in the United States in the early 20th century by manufacturers such as Oscar Schmidt, Inc. The instrument is widely used in folk, traditional, and educational contexts and has also appeared in bluegrass and country settings. Playing technique emphasizes rhythm and chord changes; performers may strum with a pick or the flat of the hand, and may employ various strumming patterns for tonal variation. Maintenance includes changing strings, cleaning the instrument, and protecting it from humidity to preserve tone.