The Paraguayan harp is a descendant of the European harp. It’s a folk instrument that’s played in a very different way than the classical pedal or concert harp. It is most well-known in South America, but it has fans and performers all over the world.
Those who came to work and live in the colonies during the 15th to 18th centuries, when the Jesuits were establishing missionaries in and colonizing South America, brought traditional European harps with them. These instruments were crucial in the spread of the gospel throughout Paraguay. Paraguayans became experts in their own right on these instruments, putting their own stamp on harp making and playing.
When it came to overall design, Paraguayans who learned to play and make harps realized that European harps had a significant disadvantage. European harps have a neck design that causes the neck to roll to the left due to the tension of the strings. To accommodate this tension, European harps had to be heavier and sturdier, making them more difficult to transport. The Paraguayans solved this problem by designing a “split neck” with the strings coming from the center of the neck. The Paraguayan harp is known for being much lighter than most European harps, with most being made of cedar and pine and weighing only 12 to 16 pounds (5.44 – 7.25 kg) depending on whether or not it has a lever system.
The Paraguayan harp has 36 strings by default, but some have 32, 38, or 40. This gives you a roughly five-octave range. In terms of height, the harp is usually around five feet tall (1.52 m). Another reason for the lightness of Paraguayan harps is that they lack foot pedals. Those who use lever systems can open one or more levers to raise the pitch of one or more strings by half a step, allowing them to play in a variety of keys.
The fact that the performer engages the strings with his fingernails is a distinguishing feature of Paraguayan harp playing. The melody is frequently performed in octaves or with a third or sixth interval, giving it a distinctive rich flavor. Tremolos are also used by players, who quickly switch from one pitch to another. In short, the Paraguayans treat the harp similarly to the guitar, including strumming it. Paraguayan harp music sparkles with the lively rhythms of South America and is far removed from the classical harp’s “angelic” stereotype, with a guitar-like approach to harp playing.