Harp (Pedal) — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Harp (Pedal)Type: instrumentThe full-sized concert harp with a pedal mechanism enabling chromatic playing, standard in symphony orchestras and solo classical performance.## History The pedal harp evolved over centuries of European harp development, driven by the need for chromatic capability. Early European harps were diatonic (limited to one key). In the late 17th century, Bavarian makers introduced hook mechanisms to sharpen individual strings. In 1720, Jakob Hochbrucker developed a single-action pedal mechanism that allowed key changes via foot pedals. Sébastien Érard perfected the double-action pedal system in 1810, enabling each string to be raised by one or two semitones. This made the harp fully chromatic and capable of playing in all keys—the breakthrough that established the harp as a standard orchestral instrument. The modern concert grand pedal harp has remained essentially unchanged since Érard's design, and the instrument is now a fixture of symphony orchestras worldwide. ## Construction The concert grand pedal harp stands approximately 72 inches tall and weighs 75 to 90 pounds. It has 47 strings spanning over six octaves, with the lowest strings being wire-wound and the middle and upper strings being gut or nylon. Seven pedals at the base each have three positions (flat, natural, sharp), controlling all strings of the same note name simultaneously through a complex internal mechanism of rods and discs in the neck. The soundboard is spruce, the body is typically maple or walnut (often laminated for stability), and the column is a structural pillar connecting the base to the neck. The extended soundboard acts as a large resonatin…