Celtic Harps

A 22 or 24-string harp covers three full octaves and is the right starting point for most beginners. That range handles the bulk of Irish and Scottish traditional repertoire. The 19-string Pixie is a step smaller, well suited to children or players who want the lightest possible instrument. Models above 29 strings are better suited once you have the basics and know you want to go further.

A lever harp uses individual levers fitted at the top of each string. Flipping a lever raises that string by a semitone, which lets you shift key mid-song. A pedal harp uses foot-operated pedals connected to a mechanism that changes all strings of one pitch simultaneously. Pedal harps are larger, heavier, more expensive, and better suited to orchestral and classical work. Lever harps are the instrument of choice for Celtic, folk, and singer-songwriter playing.

Yes. Every harp leaves the workshop strung and set to pitch. Nylon strings settle over the first few days of playing as they stretch in, so you will need to retune regularly at first. A clip-on chromatic tuner handles this easily. After the strings have broken in, a harp holds pitch well between sessions.

The 19-string Pixie is the right choice for younger players. It is lighter and shorter than the full-size models, sized for a child to hold comfortably between their knees. The 22-string models work well for older children and teenagers. All Roosebeck harps are built from the same solid tonewoods as the adult instruments; there is no separate junior-quality line.

The larger lever harp models, particularly those with 29 strings and above, cover enough range for a substantial portion of the classical harp catalogue. The Caitlin cross-strung at 38 strings adds chromatic capability without the cost and complexity of a pedal harp. For purely classical work at an advanced level, a pedal harp is the professional standard, but for students, hobbyists, and players who also work in folk styles, a Heather or Minstrel Roosebeck lever harp handles classical repertoire well.