Celtic harp tuner online
The Celtic harp, or lever harp, is tuned string by string to a diatonic scale; the levers then raise each string a semitone to change key. With 22 to 38 strings, a chromatic tuner is the simplest tool: this Celtic harp tuner recognizes any note, from the lowest to the highest.
How to use it
- Put all the levers down, then press Turn on microphone.
- Start in the middle register: pluck a string, let it ring and read the note.
- Turn the tuning pin with the tuning key: needle to the left, raise the string; needle to the right, lower it.
- Tune strings with the same name by octaves, then do a full check round.
Help and explanations
This page opens the tuner without transposition, ready for lever harps, Irish harps and lyre harps. Nothing to install: everything works in the browser.
E♭ or C tuning?
Many harpists tune their lever harp in E♭ major, with B, E and A flattened and the levers down: the levers then give eight major keys, from E♭ to E. Others tune in C major, simpler for beginners but with fewer keys. Follow your harp's manual: with Camac and most makers, the red strings are Cs and the black or blue strings are Fs.
Reading flat notes
The tuner may show notes with sharps: in E♭ tuning, an E♭ then appears as D♯, an A♭ as G♯ and a B♭ as A♯. They are the same pitches. If your harp is in C, every string shows without accidentals.
Tips
- Tune in the room where you will play: nylon and gut strings react to heat and humidity.
- Check a few strings with the levers up as well: if the semitone is off, the lever regulation is a job for the harp maker.
- To play with an ensemble at 442 Hz, open the 442 Hz tuner.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tune a Celtic harp with a tuner?
With the levers down, pluck each string and turn the pin with the key until the needle is centered. Start in the middle register, then do the octaves.
Why tune a lever harp in E♭?
Because the levers only raise notes. Starting from E♭ you can play in more keys than starting from C.
How do I tune a small 22-string harp?
Just like a large one: each string to its note, in C or E♭ depending on the model. Use the red strings, which are Cs, to find your way.
Does this tuner work for a lyre harp?
Yes. Lyre harps are often tuned in C major or to a pentatonic scale; the chromatic tuner recognizes every note.