Joystrings Music
Joystrings Music
Joystrings Music
Joystrings Music
Page 9
How to play the Joystrings Harp
How to play the Joystrings Harp
How to play the Joystrings Harp
How to play the Joystrings Harp
Insert the sheet music
Joystrings Harp “note maps” are designed to last a long time with careful
handling. They are printed on stiff board stock with a special coating to give
sharp, clear images of the printed notes. Keep them away from water, which
may warp the board and cause the ink to run. If you are carrying your music in
the rain, wrap it in plastic to protect it.
To insert a sheet of music into your harp, first place the bottom corner of the
sheet in the wooden bottom guide, then slide the top corner underneath the stiff
plastic top guide. Take your time and be gentle, so that you don’t bend either the
music or the top guide.
At the top of each sheet of music there’s a note with a large arrow pointing to it,
and a letter printed near it. Line up that note with the string that passes over the
same letter on the top or bottom guide. Now you’re ready to play!
Pieces with more than one sheet
Some longer pieces of music come on several sheets. You may be able to fit three
or four sheets of music into the harp at the same time, then pull them out one at a
time as you finish playing each one. It’s fine to do that, but don’t force in more
sheets than the guides can hold, especially the top guide.
For very long pieces, ordinary paper is sometimes used instead of card stock. With
care, paper can last a long time, and you can easily insert 8 or 9 sheets at once.
Plucking the strings
It’s best to pluck the strings with the tip of your finger, but
NOT
with your
fingernail. Plucking with your nail produces a harsh sound; plucking with your
fingertip produces a pleasant sound that everyone recognizes as the sound of a
harp. After playing regularly, you will probably develop thicker skin on the part
of your finger that you pluck with.
Ideally, you want to pluck with a steady rhythm and produce a constant
loudness, so make those your goals when you practice.
