The autoharp is a stringed instrument of the zither family, distinguished by its chord bars that mute unwanted strings, allowing players to strum harmonious chords with ease.
First patented in the late 19th century, it has become a beloved fixture in folk, country, and popular music.
The autoharp's origins are somewhat contested. Karl August Gütter of Germany is often credited with inventing the instrument around 1882, calling it the Volkszither (people's zither). However, Charles F. Zimmerman, a German immigrant in Philadelphia, patented a similar design in the United States in 1882. Zimmerman's patent introduced the term "autoharp," although the design differed from the modern instrument. The Oscar Schmidt Company later trademarked the name "Autoharp," and while the trademark has since lapsed, the term has become generic for all chord zithers of this type.
A typical autoharp has 36 or 37 strings stretched across a flat, trapezoidal wooden body. Above the strings lies a series of chord bars, each fitted with felt pads. When a bar is pressed, the pads mute all strings except those belonging to the chosen chord. The player strums across the strings with a pick or fingers, producing a full chordal sound. This ingenious mechanism makes the autoharp accessible to beginners while still offering depth for advanced musicians.
Over time, the autoharp evolved from its early rectangular forms into the more familiar trapezoidal shape. By the early 20th century, manufacturers like Oscar Schmidt refined the design, adding more chord bars and improving tonal quality. Variants include the diatonic autoharp (tuned to a single key for richer resonance), the chromatic autoharp (capable of playing in multiple keys), and custom-built models, often with specialized tunings or extended chord sets for professional performers. These developments enabled the autoharp to transition beyond folk traditions into diverse genres, including gospel and rock.
While often associated with simple strumming, the autoharp supports a wide range of techniques, including basic strumming, using a felt or plastic pick for accompaniment; pinch or pluck techniques, wehre melody notes are isolated while chords provide harmony; fingerpicking, similar to guitar styles, enabling intricate melodic lines; cross-strumming, alternating between chord bars for rhythmic variety; and melody lead playing, where skilled performers highlight single-note lines within chord structures. These techniques showcase the instrument's versatility, from gentle ballads to lively dance tunes.
Notable autoharpists include Maybelle Carter, June Carter Cash, Bryan Bowers, Kilby Snow, and Jo Ann Smith.
Featured below, we have assembled a collection of informational and instructive resources for the autoharp. However, e-commerce sites offering autoharps for sale would be listed in the Musical Instruments section of the Shopping & eCommerce section of our guide.
Recommended Resources
Focused on autoharp maintenance, customization, learning, and player resources, Autoharp Companion features "Tinkerer's Corner," with how-tos (changing strings, customizing felt, etc.), a section on learning to play the autoharp, which includes sheet music, links to tutorial videos, and how to learn using the Nashville Number System, links to autoharp festicals, and autoharp stories and album reviews. The team involved in putting the site together is introduced.
https://www.autoharpcompanion.com/
AutoHarp Quarterly is a music-focused online resource dedicated to the autoharp, featuring lessons, maintenance tips, artist profiles, model reviews, performance advice, and information for both learners and players. Its main categories include Autoharp Lessons, Maintenance, Artists, and Music. It features beginner lessons, fingerpicking and chord tutorials, practice tips, tuning and string replacement advice, and maintenance guidance, along with artist interviews and collaborative projects.
https://autoharpquarterly.com/
This is a streaming Internet radio station curated by Marc Gunn, featuring autoharp and chromaharp music from autoharpists. The station features traditional old-time, folk, bluegrass, country, Celtic, pop, rock, and jazz arrangements, along with autoharp and chromaharp recordings from renowned autoharpists and a growing list of independent performers and CDs. The site offers a streaming Autoharp Radio player and provides links to listen to Marc Gunn's selections and playlists.
https://www.autoharpmusic.com/
With a special focus on Scotland, Autoharp Witch is a site dedicated to promoting the autoharp, including resources, products, instruction, and a subscriber area for more in-depth content. Its stated mission is to gather expert autoharp knowledge and products, collaborate with autoharp masters worldwide, and promote the instrument through performance, art, fundraising, and online activities. Subscriptions provide sign-in credentials and unlock additional content and member-only resources.
https://autoharpwitch.com/
The personal site of Jo Ann Smith, a three-time autoharp champion who performs, teaches, and promotes the autoharp through recordings, videos, and custom instrument collaboration. Known for diatonic autoharp expertise, a melodic expressive style, and a widespread YouTube presence, Jo Ann Smith offers online lessons and consultations at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, consultation sessions via Zoom, and endorsement in the Heartland Autoharp project.
https://www.autoharpist.com/
Capital "Harpers" Autoharp Club
Established in 1991 to provide a venue for people who play the autoharp to gather and make music in an informal setting, its members are generally residents of the U.S. Capital Area, including Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, and Maryland. Its website presents news about club activities and other items of autoharp information, as well as PDF files of public domain tunes and songs specifically arranged for autoharp players. Meeting schedules and contact details are posted.
http://autoharpclub.fattaleh.org/
Created and maintained by Paul D. Race, this appears to be a personal resource site focused on autoharps, zithers, and bowed psalteries. Its main content areas include information on choosing, playing, tweaking, and repairing autoharps, as well as autoharp history and a downloadable booklet entitled "Your First Autoharp," aimed at beginners and those rescuing secondhand instruments. A buyer's guide and other informational resources are provided, including social media contacts.
https://harpersguild.com/
