Theory: mando & Autoharp

[smilnJackB]

Music Friends, #
#I have an antique 5 chord, no name 'autoharp'. #It has the chords: C, F,G7, B-flat and C7. #So, it should play in the keys of C and, I think, F. #(I am blissfully ignorant about playing in F).
#I have a new mando student who is playing in the key of G. #She has an 8 year old son whom she is teaching as she learns. #
# I had the idea to TUNE THE AUTO HARP UP ONE STEP, so it would play G,C,and D-- so mom and son could play together on autoharp and mando---the F button would sound G, the B-flat button would sound C and the C would sound D.
# I tuned each of the 19 strings up a step. #It does not sound right. #Not real bad, but just not right. I suspect the B-flat to C change did not come out right. #What's wrong?
# #Now before you think that I am a mando teacher without much knowledge, please know that I teach for free and have had good success helping 7 out of 7 people to do basic mando and enjoy it. #
# Can you tell me why the autoharp deal did not work? #Or better yet, if I can make it work.
# #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Jack

[Dave Voyles]

I think it is a matter of which strings are being noted by each button. Try pushing down the C bar and tuning only those notes to a D chord. Do the same for each of the other bars rather than tuning each string up a step.

[mandroid]

or keep it tuned the same and replace the bar felts so all that vibrates is the chord tones , and the felt blocks dampen everything else. thats how they work; for C major, C,E and G .
Elderly sells autoharp parts as well as the instruments, whole chord bar assemblys can be replaced.
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[mrbook]

Tuning up a step might put a lot of stress on an old autoharp with all those strings, making it hard to keep in tune. It might be safer to tune the mandolin down a step to match the autoharp. It should be a good combination - we had an autoharp player in our group in the beginning, and it was really something different.

[mandroid]

Or learn the F& C key chords provided: I-F IV-Bb V-C and/ or C7 and; C use C F and G7 gV the dominant 7th often in songs,zillions.