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The Wizardry of Songwriting - Part 8: My (Our) New Toy! The Autoharp - Part 1 by clairemobey

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· @clairemobey ·
$6.42
The Wizardry of Songwriting - Part 8: My (Our) New Toy! The Autoharp - Part 1
https://youtu.be/bCWnF9Urofw

Just before our last performance at the Alma Café, Jasper twisted my arm into trying out something new... probably since I've been dragging my feet with the guitar. I've been avoiding it really, almost like I feel I don't deserve to play it yet.... and the more I avoid it, the more it hurts when I pick it up to play. I should be playing every day.

Also, the last few weeks/months here in the Mobey-Ludick Household have been utter chaos with immigrating family members, deaths and looming surgery and honestly it's been tough to stay focused.

However, if I have learnt anything from all these experiences, it's that life is short and music is an absolute blessing. Life doesn't care about stage fright or nerves or imposter syndrome, and frankly, neither does death.




Like all my whacky instruments, Jasper kind of dropped the autoharp on me (his grandad's one) and said "go home and figure this out. You're going to play this on stage and you're going to love it... and I told him he was crazy and like always *inserteyerollhere* he was right.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbnKv1NxdCBRyFfZaQx78RAqdywbZi9pbTfEhZHn6pyaE/img_20230416_173529.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPyVJBwiV6Sd1xjdF8hTcUrh1xi6cDUkzeRoP6Lgo3wXL/img_20230416_173634.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZHLDzokkJpFdeXTcSFGio2bbXGvdUvPQUWBk7LJgF3pr/img_20230416_173640.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdraNhNoRG5jmfqs8o6ZoVwmy8LceCsSiprZ4MSYbiF5E/img_20230416_173647.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmWqDsjWs9Eaw5Xj2vFJabbxkBmVM594fsHqwU8rQ3E2Q4/img_20230416_173650.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSWtZ5E3bFRowNxBDbocTbyiYrTnzh7yY9biTXL1ck6nP/img_20230416_173653.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdxR2wPVjMfuoLfJUvKPsy1hxPVjuxfhb1UVvEA8jQk8A/img_20230416_173803.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdUV3AQQQNGso2z3mykZuMG81JoFokq5PXYzwCBPKDZe1/img_20230416_173809.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmemmdggkXELT22gGb6DMLirMa6qG5orJGu4dnRrd7rzTe/img_20230416_173838.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQme74vWfpoAojti4kUveB7p8umw8CRRpNzNF58Un4XUCKX/img_20230416_175921.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbSg8rg8EML9s2xgNeGjrZCwWu17ndLFVoNDMFy42KYso/img_20230416_184109.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmX9ze3Z8LSeaJX5VnsVS6EzKZcATLmcXorzQV7miCDHjF/img_20230416_184113.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQma4zxmVHnpvKsem5K37b3CMR6DM27kigUwGyiRhBYP7nP/img_20230416_184121.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmeTqHDmc8ghTk4VJ6BDZzFUzDWeXqFoyyYTNAPu3o9gwg/img_20230416_184123.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQEQR1vLEViKzSQYcchUJBUuGQM8JxHu4fweEa5w2n5JC/img_20230416_184138.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmfLxqn22T6kJwK3bM3v8Lgkm5X6xgG9WSC9ZqbMU6TDHV/img_20230416_184143.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmYj8uLNrvmcNhTVzmxazdzMrYJUxBCPMW1nTs4MsHxpGC/img_20230416_185930.jpg)



We took it home and @zakludick lovingly took it apart and cleaned out decades of cat hair and lord knows what else. We got it looking absolutely beautiful. It was, however, missing strings. @jasperdick did the research and we actually discovered it would be easier and cheaper to by a whole complete autoharp than to source the strings, so guess who got an autoharp?? MEEEE!! Well, technically, MobeyDick got a now autoharp but you know potato potAto 🤫🤣

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVAwKjbu9rWBkKvYwgfYQR8n2s6ayg54Tg8EZ7EgxYp5d/img_20230418_wa0012.jpg)



Zak and I went on holiday shortly after the Alma Café and I took my new toy with me. I played it every single day we were away and I even figured out some of my favourite songs while I was messing around. Although this is a godawful angle, it's the only footage I have right now, and it's a good benchmark to hear what I sounded like when I started, and how I will sound like after practice and putting in the time and effort to get the most I can out of this fabulous instrument.


![](https://images.ecency.com/DQma3YCSvz9xocAhvN7pACB4Fjr4e2jwPGrm4KqPHbUtFdA/img_20230427_153425.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVBZ3asrK8qpGsGnS7mjH5eJ5qPEe9GN4LNLzefedZcfQ/img_20230428_124201.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUXDVSLnmg4qVftEvJP2Ps9K4FhzeyRt3S6LgQaV6n6zZ/img_20230428_182342.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUgG6qmJ1XV7s12R1ApyKf55bea33XwHpdgxjxEzCXNwk/img_20230428_192116.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVSRUCSH3GC8EWrkygHWEb986NghPus9breoGzVNYGYff/img_20230428_192301.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmYNXh7Acs9w8syWGbp8pBj4wHrFqT5sWstqx9ssEGXxkf/img_20230428_192310.jpg)




Playing it is quite mindboggling, unless, like me, your favourite thing to play on the piano is chopstix, because that's pretty much how you play the autoharp: by crossing your arms. Believe me, I have tried it the other way around and it sounds awful. No doubt it was designed by Hilbillies 🤣🤣 (I'm going to get into trouble for that). It is such an intruiging mix between a harp, a guitar and a piano, and I am getting better at getting a clear and beautiful ring out of the strums (better than in this video). I just need to memorise where the buttons are so I can hold it upright and play it in the "correct" holding position. For now, I'm playing it on a flat surface, like a piano, but you are actually supposed to hold it upright and cradle it. It is also heavier than it looks, so I might skip this till I'm more comfortable with it.

I do look forward to sharing my autoharp learning experiences with you! Watch this space ❤️
👍  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 481 others
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vote details (545)
@joanstewart ·
$0.02
Congratulations learning a new instrument very proud that it turned out so beautiful, nice instrument I have not seen in years...

@tipu curate
👍  
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vote details (1)
@clairemobey ·
It is so special. I'm finding a lot of inspiration online! Dolly Parton was fabulous on the autoharp. She probably still is! 
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@joanstewart ·
$0.02
Once you have a talent I think digging deeper one has surprises oneself once settled into trying, sounds like Jasper deep ended you, perhaps that is good! Zak did an excellent job at bringing it back to it's former glory.
👍  
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<a href="https://tipu.online/hive_curator?joanstewart" target="_blank">Upvoted  &#128076;</a> (Mana: 45/75) <a href="https://peakd.com/hive/@reward.app/reward-app-quick-guide-updated" target="_blank">Liquid rewards</a>.
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