Folk & Plucked
Autoharp
The autoharp pairs many strings with a set of spring-loaded chord bars: pressing a bar mutes every string not part of that chord, so a strum across all the strings produces a clean, full chord. This mechanism makes it possible to accompany a song with rich harmony before a player has learned to form chords by hand on another instrument.
| Family | Folk & Plucked |
|---|---|
| Region / context | Germany and United States |
| Playing method | Strummed or plucked while pressing chord bars that mute unwanted strings |
| Number of strings | Commonly 36 strings, though 12-, 15-, and 21-bar chord configurations also exist |
| Common tuning | Chromatic or diatonic zither-style tuning across all strings, with chord bars pre-set to common chords |
| String material | Steel |
| Construction | Flat zither-style soundbox with a row of chord bars along one edge |
| Size range | Compact tabletop or lap-held instrument |
| Portability | Portable — Light and manageable, though the flat shape needs a dedicated case. |
| Acoustic volume | Moderate — Bright and chord-forward, clearly audible in a small ensemble or living-room setting. |
| Musical contexts | Common in American folk, country, and old-time music, both as a solo accompaniment instrument and in ensembles. |
| Beginner learning curve | Approachable — The chord-bar mechanism simplifies harmony considerably for newcomers, though tuning this many strings takes patience. |
| Maintenance | Tuning a large number of strings is the main ongoing task; chord bar felts occasionally need replacement. |
| Amplification | Acoustic by design; pickups are available for stage use. |
| Practice environments | Comfortable for home practice given its moderate volume. |
Origin and Background
A chord-zither concept was patented in the 1880s in both Germany and the United States (the latter by Charles F. Zimmermann), and the instrument was later popularized in American folk and country music, notably through performers such as Mother Maybelle Carter.
Sources
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History
- Grove Music Online
Content last checked against our reference sources on October 14, 2026. See our sources and methodology page for how we research instrument profiles.