A wood harp is a traditional musical instrument with a soundbox at one end and a triangular or square wooden frame. To make sound, strings are positioned between the wooden pieces of the frame and plucked or strummed. Wood harps are made from a variety of woods, including maple, cherry, ash, mahogany, and others, with spruce being the most common soundbox material. Modern — or neo — and ancient styles of wood harps are frequently distinguished. Wire-stringed wood harps and hair- or animal-gut-stringed wood harps are among the various types of wood harps.
Because they are modeled after ancient designs but manufactured using modern production techniques, modern types of wood harps are often referred to as neo versions of ancient harps. The Celtic harp, which features designs from Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, is a good example of a neo wood harp. The triangular shape that is commonly associated with this instrument is used to design Celtic and neo-Celtic harps. The type of strings used on Scottish, Welsh, and Irish Celtic harps differs primarily, with wire, hair, and animal gut being commonly used.
Ancient harps are the forerunners of the lyre and crwth, which are still played today. Both of these wood harp designs are frequently produced as modernized versions of traditional designs. The lyre is an instrument with ornate designs around the square, wooden body that is frequently found in ancient artworks. The crwth is similar to the lyre in design, but it can also be strummed or played with a bow in addition to being plucked.
Wire-stringed harps are made of wood and require a different playing technique than harps with hair or animal gut strings. The strings on the wooden wire harp must be plucked while the other strings are dampened with the player’s hand. The most well-known member of the modern harp family is the pedal harp. A long, straight wooden pillar and carved wooden decorations run the length of the harp’s triangular frame. The modern pedal harp allows the player to choose between playing the harp in sharp, neutral, or flat modes.