Harp Basics

The harp tradition in Ireland is a very ancient one dating back to medieval times when the harpist was held in high regard and played to entertain nobility. It’s imprint on the Irish psyche was so great that the image of the harp is one of the national symbols of the country, for example the harp is on all Irish euro coins, not to mention the symbol of a very popular ‘pint of plain’. The harp, or Celtic Harp as it is more commonly known in North America, seems to have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent decades, perhaps with its use in New Age relaxation music. Whatever the reason, we welcome the return of the harp to its rightful throne as an original Irish traditional music instrument and encourage those who love its sound to consider learning how to play it, keeping its rich tradition alive, wherever you are in the world. And what better place to start than with this step-by-step beginners course.

By the end of this 18 lesson course you will have a repertoire of seven popular Irish session tunes and a great foundation on which to develop your playing in progressive courses.