All pegs are hand turned and tapered from Red Oak. Each peg
is matched in length to the changing width of the gourd neck Smaller harps
have shaped peg heads for hand tuning; larger harps (12 or more strings)
require a tuning wrench.
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STEEL STRINGS: The number of strings on any given gourd harp is dictated by
the "useable" area of the neck. The smallest of harps have 6
strings and are generally about 6 to 10 inches in height. Larger harps
(30” in height) can have as many as 24 strings. Height does not always
dictate the number of strings however; it is the shape and length of the
gourd neck that is the determining factor. The most powerful of the harps
are double strung. That is, instead of the typical single row of strings,
two rows run parallel down the center line, with the lower tone strings
on the left (right and left are dictated by holding the harp with the open
end away from the body). The strings are generally plain steel, however,
custom strings can be used (stainless steel, bronze, etc.) The initial
tone of the harp depends on the gauge of the string used.Gauges start at
.008 inch; a typical 8 string harp will have steel strings ranging from
.008 to .013 inches and will have a one octave range. NOTE:
If your gourd harp is treated as an art object, and sits in a case or on
a shelf....it would be wise to detune all strings (such is the case with
any traditional harp)
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SUPPORT PILLAR:
The purpose of the support pillar is to hold the neck of the
gourd in place under string tension. The pillar is hand turned on a wood
lathe, the length matched specifically to the gourd. Two configurations
are used depending on the desired result. The first method of support has
the pillar base inside the harp, resting above the bridge. The second method
is for larger, thicker gourds and has the pillar base rounded and notched
into the face if the resonating chamber at a strategic location. This opens
up the entire chamber for the strings alone.
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SOUND HOLE:
The sound hole carved into the gourd is kept as small as possible
but large enough to allow for string vibration. Various designs and shapes
are used, none of which are the same. Each unique gourd demands and deserves
its own personal shaped sound hole. The sound hole is accompanied by hand
carved designs around its perimeter (sometimes simple, at times very elaborate
depending on the needs of the gourd) The design work is most often a total
contrast in color to the sound hole to compliment both entities.
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RESONATING CHAMBER: The resonating chamber is the heart of the harp. The size of
the chamber dictates the depth of sound Large bulbous gourds have a rich,
deep tone which amplifies well through the sound hole. When playing a gourd
harp you can actually feel the sound vibration on the walls of the resonating
chamber. The larger harps are coated inside with polyurethane to counter
the effects of sound deadening (the rough interior of the gourd, although
scraped clean, still acts to deaden the sound vibration).
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BRIDGE:
The bridge is a small hand shaped length of hardwood exactly
shaped to fit the base of the harp.This bridge acts to hold the string
ends as well as to spread the tension pressure over a larger area of the
gourd. The bridge also acts to hold the harp in the base.
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STAND:
The stand holds the harp. Larger harps, especially double strung
harps can be securely attached to the stand to free both hands for playing.
The stand itself is left as innocuous as possible except in circumstances
where the stand will be a functional element of the harp (again the example
of the double strung harp).
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TUNING:
Tuning a Gourdophone Gourd Harp Can be a tricky matter if you
let it. If you know how, and get used to the procedure is quick and easy.
The thing you need to get used to is using the pegs. Unlike mechanical
geared tuning machines, these pegs are in direct contact with the string.
Therefore, the shorter the string, the less the peg needs to be turned.
On small harps, turning a peg 1/4 turn or so could actually change pitch
by up to 2 whole steps! Longer strings or taller harps will not have this
problem, but if you are a brave soul that wants to play/perform on a smaller
8 or 10 string harp, have patience when tuning! All Gourd Harps have been
initially tuned at the shop, either to a scale, or some other defined increment
base (it should be marked on the attached material). These harps are designed
to be tuned, to change tuning scales, in general to be very versatile.
However, some important things to know are: NEVER OVERTUNE! First and foremost.....this
is, after all, an organic entity, it was once alive and growing, it still
changes minutely when tuning. Overtuning will break a string, change the
shape of the neck...possibly even breaking the neck. The original documentation
that came with the Harp is a good guide of what has been tested on that
harp. I would not range above (tonally) 2 whole steps from the highest
tone. Again, this wont effect the larger harps; over tuning WILL break
your strings but should not effect the harp itself. Re-tuning a harp is
done in a few simple steps. Keep in mind that ALL strings are tightened
by turning the peg towards the open end of the harp. The nature of the
hardwood pegs in the softwood gourd neck produces a ‘sticky’ bond that
naturally keeps the peg from turning. This can be evidenced by detuning
a peg and hearing the ‘snap’ of the bond breaking! (This can be a painful
sound until you get used to it!) ERGO...ALWAYS, ALWAYS detune the string
before bringing it back up to the desired pitch, just to break the peg
bond first. Obviously, forward tuning at the same time as breaking the
peg bond may break the string. Lastly, each peg is tapered so that it may
be tightened in the neck holes. Gently pushing the peg into the neck while
tuning will tighten the peg significantly. Do this only when the tone seems
to be flattening while practicing or performing. Keep in mind what you
are dealing with here....This is a new instrument.... patent pending...there
is no other like it anywhere. It possesses its own rules, its own procedures.
It will treat you just as you treat it! Please feel free to e-mail any
questions you may have...I would love to hear how you and your Gourdophone
are doing!
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PLAYING:
Playing a gourd harp is a creative act, as is playing any stringed
instrument. We can no more tell you how to play it than we could tell Jimi
Hendrix how to play the guitar!. But a few observations have been made.
Soprano Harps (small harps~6 to 10 strings)
Soprano Harps are generally tuned to a major or minor scale. Therefore,
using the fingers of one hand to deaden certain strings while strumming
the strings with the other, can produce different chords within the tonic.
Plucking certain strings in a melody format is also effective. These smaller
harps are often more ornamental than performance oriented, but all harps
are constructed with the main idea that they CAN be tuned within themselves
and played. History is laced with 4 to 6 stringed harps and lyres, so what
you do with those precious few tones is up to you!
Alto Harps (medium harps~11 to 14 strings)
The tuning for these harps is much the same as with the soprano
harps with the exception that tuning within an octave is more versatile.
You can tune in equivalent tones to create suspended, augmented, sevenths,
diminished...anything you wish within that octave (extended range accepted).
This provides more chord changes and a greater variety of single string
(double, triple string) plucked melodies.
Tenor and Bass Harps (tall harps~string number varies)
This area of Gourd Harp design is usually by commission. For instance,
a 32 inch tall, bass harp may only have 7 strings, but the sound is incomparable.
A 24 string double strung tenor harp has all the capabilities of a 12 string
alto harp TIMES 2. That is, a full octave comprised of half step equal
temperaments, side by side with an equal range set of strings one octave
below right next door! Learning to play something like this is certainly
up to the performer! More technical information is provided in the ‘commissions’
section.
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CARE: Cre of your gourdophone is easy. The outside of the harp is
finished with varnish (Satin or gloss depending on the order), so nothing
more than ordinary playing or dusting is required. The main thing about
the care of your harp is.....Keep it detuned if it is not in use. If your
harp is a shelf piece, or even used just to impress your friends once a
month (hey....it WILL do that!) keep it detuned two whole steps or so.
In other words.....reduce the tension throughout the neck thus preserving
its total integrity. This procedure is done even with traditional harps.
If you wish to restring your harp in the future, e-mail Gourdophones for
a string gauge chart that corresponds to your harp. We do NOT recommend
any oil of any kind on the tuning pegs, oil will infect the soft wood of
the gourd neck and render hard tuning impossible.
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Copyright 2001 , Gourdophones,
All rights reserved
