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Light tension?
I am going to post this in a few forums because I think it’s important for people to know, particularly if you have any physical issues. If you see this in more than one place, that is why. I am actively looking to purchase a new 34 string harp and I’ve had carpal tunnel surgery so I need to be somewhat careful. During my extensive research I came across this issue regarding what realty is meant by light tension from the manufacturer’s point of view and the sometimes disconnect from what the player experiences.
Regarding tension – when harp makers (luthiers) are talking about tension, they are referring to the static (stationary) tension that the strings have on the body of the harp, whereas players are thinking in terms of how much effort it takes to create a sound. In other words, dynamic tension or – more accurately – resistance. So when you see something listed as “light tension”, they are likely not referring to resistance, but rather the static tension on the harp. This is why something that is listed as having light tension can actually have quite high resistance/dynamic tension and it leads to a great deal of confusion when luthiers mean one thing and players mean something else but we’re all using the same word.
Some companies will specify that a model is good for people with arthritis or hand injuries, but if it doesn’t say that, don’t assume it will be easy on the hands. It very well may not be.
When looking for a new harp, especially if you can’t try it in person, be sure to read reviews from players and ask people who own the harp you’re considering purchasing or renting. You can also ask the luthier/manufacturer what the tension is like for a player, but the best guidance will be from people who have owned, rented, or at least tried the model you are interested in. And get more than one opinion. What is fairly light to one person may be too much resistance to someone else.
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17 Replies
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Thank you, Nina. I didn’t know this. I future I will ask more detailed question when asking for information about a harp. What is your harp like?
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You’re very welcome!
I didn’t know this either until I started doing a lot of research and I came across a post on another forum (unrelated to learningtheharp.com) and it was explained by a luthier.
A person had asked the question as to why the harp they bought, which was said to have low/light tension, turned out to have quite high tension and that was the explanation by a luthier who makes harps.
It makes a great deal of sense and just something to be aware of when looking to purchase a harp online. It seems like some companies are addressing the tension from a player’s perspective while others from a harp maker’s/luthier’s perspective and it’s impossible to know which unless they expressly state that it is good for people who have hand issues. Dusty Strings is one that makes it clear. They have one model that is specifically light tension for people who need to be careful with their hands. It’s their Serrana 34 model.
It would be nice if they all would state both static tension and dynamic tension/resistance so we would know with certainly which ‘tension’ they are referring to.
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This was yet another interessting Information about the Dusty strings harps. I just looked at their website and for the first time I noticed the diagram about the tension. I didn’t know that all their harps have the same string tension with the exception of the Serrana 34.
Now I could write to a harp maker and ask this question before travelling to see the harp.😀
So thank you again💐
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You’ve very welcome, Helga!
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The Dusty Strings Serrana is low tension and their Boulevard has tension close to a pedal harp. The rest are all squarely in the middle, like you said.
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I’ve owned a Dusty Strings Ravenna 34 and now have a Dusty Strings Serrana 34, a Thormahlen Ceili and a Harpsicle. I have a trigger finger (which I think was brought on by playing the medium tensioned) Ravenna, TMJ which causes neck and upper back pain, I’ve had carpal tunnel surgery and have tennis elbow. So obviously I have to be careful with the harps I play.
I don’t have to pull very hard on the Harpsicle strings, but I never play that harp. It was the first harp I got and I’m not a fan of trying to hold a lap harp. It doesn’t have much volume and I soon outgrew a 26-string harp.
My next harp was a Dusty Strings Ravenna. It caused me all sorts of hand and other pain with its medium tension (whatever that means). Granted, much of that pain may have just been due to my being a new harp student and not having established the correct body mechanics and technique yet.
After much research and a couple of trips to Oregon to play harps in the Thormahlen studio, I got a Ceili which has closer string spacing and somewhat lighter tension than medium. That was a game changer for me. It’s so much easier on the hands and I love its sound. Something you may want to think about is what kind of strings are on the harp. My Ceili has carbon fiber strings which (and someone more knowledgeable can correct me) I think have more volume than nylon strings, so I don’t need to pull as hard on them.
I needed a harp to play during my visits to my daughter in another state and I wasn’t up for the cost of another Ceili. So back to researching. I was fortunate to find a music store an hour away that carries Dusty String harps and was able to take their Serrana out for a test drive. It’s very easy on my hands and has fairly close string spacing which is fine for me because I have small hands. It has plastic strings, but still plenty of volume. I love its big, booming bass, though the mid-tones sound a little weak in comparison. It’s a mariachi harp, so it doesn’t have the classic Celtic harp look. The Dusty Strings website has a video of it being played mariachi style in a very noisy background. To get a better sense of how it sounds, you can search for Margot Krimmel playing her composition “Valley of the Golden Gate.” Love that song. I wish she would publish the sheet music.
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Thank you for your input Kathleen! The Serrana was one of the harps I am considering. I spoke with Dusty Strings and they sent me the string spacing measurements and the upper octave is even closer together than my Fullsicle, which I already find to be too close. Then again, it’s so floppy that the tight string spacing perhaps is more of an interference than it would on the Serrana. Balancing the Flopsicle is really difficult so I bought a stand for it which helps with that part, but it’s just so squishy as to be very frustrating to play.
I’ve watched that video several times with the Mariachi player. He is FABULOUS! I loved it! Thank you for the tip about that other video! I will certainly watch it.
I’m strongly considering the Lyon & Healy Drake. It has “BioCarbon” strings and has a lot of volume with much less effort. It’s listed as low tension, but from talking to people who own it, it’s not as low as other “low-tension” harps, but not high either.
Interestingly someone else on a different thread (I think) commented that she has pretty serious arthritis and she owns 3 harps. One with low tension, one with medium, and one with high. She said the low tension made her hands hurt a lot, but the highest tension one that she owns causes no pain at all because it takes such little pulls to get a nice tone.
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I found the video and it’s absolutely beautiful! Both the harp and the song. I don’t mind the shape of the Serrana being different. I actually think it’s pretty cool looking with that twist at the end of the neck and the carbon fiber pillar. The Drake is also very beautiful in appearance and a bit unique looking, too. At least their burgundy & natural one which seems to be their showcase version and the one I would buy if I go that route. I’m awfully tempted to! I really like it and a number of people in this community have recommended it to me.
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Thanks to both of you for the interessting comments.
I own a Camac Excalibur with with fluorcarbon strings. It is certainly a harp with lots of volume. It doesn’t need much pulling to get a big sound. I was fine playing it as long as I hardly ever used the lowest strings and played no intervalls that needed the fourth finger. Ever since I started Canon in D the pain in the left hand started. I bought myself a harp from a German harp maker with a low tension and less space between the strings ( gut strings )and I have no pain anymore. I believe it is not the material of the string that make a difference.
I think it is difficult to ask someone what they think the tension is like because it depends on what harps are they used to.
When I was looking for a new harp I had problems playing on the harp I finaly bought because the strings have been closer together and so I made more mistakes. In the shop I also played on a Dusty strings FH 36 und I loved it. Wonderful sound and I had no problems playing it. I said to the seller that I think that the Fh36 has higher string tension and wider spacing then the other one but he told me there was hardly a difference. ( the FH36 was a new harp and the one I bought only second hand).
When I was at home it took me some days before I was happy playing my new harp and only then I noticed that I am able to play it for an hour und probably even more without getting a painful hand. The longest with the Excalibur was half an hour. Thinking back I should have gone to the shop several times , playing each harp I was interessted in at least for half an hour to find out wether the pain would start or not.
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Thank you, Helga! you’re right that it is very subjective and not dependent upon the type of strings, but the dynamic pulling tension. Too low of tension is bad in one way, too high is perhaps bad in a different way. My final first choice is a Dusty Strings Crescendo, as long as I can find one without a crazy long wait time. I like the warmth of Dusty Strings over the Lyon & Healy Drake, but they are both very nice instruments. The Drake supposedly has lower dynamic tension, but not as low as others listed as low tension and the Crescendo is squarely in the middle. I hate the squishiness of the Fullsicle. I find it frustrating to play cleanly.
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The Drake has BioCarbon strings so it does not take much effort to get a nice volume out of it. That is one thing it has going for it over the Crescendo.
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It is so difficult to choose a harp but I do hope you find the perfect one for you.
Both the Drake and the Crescendo seem to be very good harps. Good luck🍀
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It is SO difficult! And disappointingly, it would take about 8 months for the Crescendo. I like the look of the Drake and the reported tension, but I’m not convinced on the sound – for me. We all like differently qualities and I find the Carbon strings to be very bright. A bit too bright I fear. I like the sound of a warm harp much more than a bright and sparkly harp. Ack! 🤯
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Did you try the L&H Ogden? It comes with gut strings, which I absolutely love the sound of. It’s about the same size as the Drake. I have its big brother, the Troubadour, and love the sound.
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I would love to, but it’s a bit beyond my price range right now 🙁
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Nina, I don’t know where you’re located, but Kline’s music in Sacramento often has Dusty Strings harps in stock. That would cut down your waiting time by about 8 months! I briefly played a Crescendo there and wow. Whenever and wherever you get it, you’ll love it.
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Oh I wish! I am on the opposite end of the country and in the middle of a harp-less zone. There is nothing close to where I live unfortunately. I don’t travel far very well. I have MS and I am missing my large intestine combined with Celiac disease which, because it wasn’t diagnosed until I was 50, left me with very early onset osteoporosis. I just turned 55 and had the osteoporosis diagnosis at only 54. I am also in-between intestine surgeries. The one coming up in February will be my 6th one within the past 12 months. Ugh. I haven’t had solid food in more than two years so it is almost impossible for me to travel, even if it’s just overnight. I’m quite ill.
But I am SO grateful that the MS has not affected my hands. The reason I had carpal tunnel surgery is because I was a sign language interpreter and I started way back when they used to excessively overwork us so I had to have this surgery when I was only in my mid-20s and still healthy.
I’m just happy to still have quite good dexterity in my hands. Being an interpreter conditioned my hands (and my brain) to be very well coordinated. That’s more important to me than any of the other stuff. At least I can make music and be a portrait artist, which is where my heart is and what makes me happy to do! I’ve learned not to care about food or walking without falling.
I had a nasty fall outside just three days ago. I hit the sidewalk with both knees and my right hand all at the same time. The only thing I cared about was my poor hand. So happy I didn’t break it. It was a HARD fall.
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