I’m sure you’ve thought of owning and learning how to play a harp (that’s why you’re here, right?).
With its exquisite and classical feel and sound, it’s one of the most elegant instruments to learn and master!
To start your journey on playing the harp, read on as I show you the five best ones to choose from!
Contents
The Best Harps For Beginners (2024 Reviews)
If you’re planning to get a beginner harp, these are the top five choices, whether it’s for a child or adult:
- Mid-East Roosebeck Baby Harp 12-String
- Roosebeck Celtic Heather Harp 22-String
- Roosebeck Heather Harp ™ 22-String
- Rees Harps Harpsicle Harp
Runner Up | Editor's Choice | Also Great |
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Mid-East Roosebeck Baby Harp 12-String
The reason why the Roosebeck Baby Harp is the best beginner harp out there is that it helps both children and adults ease into the instrument. We all know how difficult it is to learn how to play the harp, which is why it’s recommended to start small but with a good note range to play various simple songs.
I’m pleased with how it’s a perfect size, being portable and looking great as both an instrument and decor piece. The tunes also sound amazing for its price, having the soft and pleasing tones that feel great to practice on!
- Beautiful wooden finish to use for playing and as a decor piece
- Crisp and pleasing sounds when played
- Not bulky and great to use for children and adult beginners
- Some complaints about the shipping process
- Can only be used with one hand
Roosebeck Celtic Heather Harp 22-String
For those who want something bigger and with more of a learning curve to work your way up, then the Roosebeck Celtic Heather Harp is a great choice. It has 22 strings for a wide range of sound, playing from notes C3 to C6 (three octaves!). I also highly appreciate its color-coded strings, which are helpful for beginners to identify the different notes and strings to play.
It’s a full lever harp so you can easily change keys as you go, without it feeling uncomfortable or painful to the touch. With all that being said, this is a good beginner’s harp to invest in!
- Good build quality to last for many practices
- Adequate tuning hardware and sharping levers
- Wide note range for more variety in playing
- It doesn’t stay in tune for the first weeks
- Not the best customer service
Roosebeck Heather Harp ™ 22-String
The Roosebeck Heather Harp ™ is another beautifully made instrument by the company, made with authentic materials and the optimum height for beginners. You can see its beauty from the wood frame, and appreciate the color-coded strings most beginner Roosebeck harps have for ease of playability for those starting out.
It looks like it can last for the long run, making it a worthy purchase at a good price.
- Has a pleasant sound when plucked and played
- Solid build and lasts longer than similar-priced harps
- Fast shipping and packed well to avoid damage
- It doesn’t have low-end sounds because of string count
- Some of the levers are too close to the strings
Rees Harps Harpsicle Harp
The Rees Harps Harpsicle Harps are best known for their amazing yet simple build. While it may come at a more expensive price, it has an excellent value which makes it worth the purchase, from the wider note range down to the solid wood construction.
Another thing I commend is that the harp is lightweight yet very strong, enough to last for a lot of practice! Nothing looks or feels cheap with this, and it’s perfect for beginners who want to work their way up with the harp.
- Solidly built with pegs for a strap
- Doesn’t sound tinny and has a lovely tune to it
- Great for starters and intermediate players
- Doesn’t come tuned yet
- Some complaints of shipping
Tips on Selecting the Best Harp
Because there are so many kinds of harps, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you! Here are the crucial factors to help you out:
Size for Beginners
The best size for beginners depends on your height. Adults can choose a harp with about 30 strings. For small children, a harp with 28 strings and sitting on a 12-inch stool is the best to practice posture.
Sound Is Everything
The sound of your instrument should have a rich and resonant voice. While beginner harps aren’t as rich as pricier, professional ones, it should still have a responsive range with lovely sounds for inspiration.
Musical Range
Musical range depends on the number of strings in a harp. Floor sized harps with over 34 stings have all access to musical styles, while smaller harps with less than 30 strings have a smaller musical range, though is best for beginners.
Our Choice
Out of all the different kinds of harps I tested out, the best one goes to the Roosebeck Baby Harp. This is perfect for both children and adults alike, especially those who still want to try easing in the harp without the huge investment.
The playable miniature harp has a beautiful make and quality craftsmanship, which produces clear sounds. It has a note range between F4 to C6, which is very suitable for beginners to learn easy, simple songs from first!
I hope this article on the best harps for beginners helped you out! So don’t wait any longer and check out any of these reviews now. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences with these brands, then comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
I just heard a lady playing the harp, it makes a beautiful sound, and I would love to learn to play, so when my grandbabies come for. A Visit I can play for them while telling them stories about Jesus!
Hi I’m in school for therapeutic musician and need harp with lower sounds below middle C, but have never played harp. I play Autoharp and keyboard. Any suggestions
The Roosebeck harps are cheap, but that’s really all you can hope from them. A lot of harpists have dubbed them “firewood” harps because they’re usually crafted poorly, the levers break easily, and the strings never stay in tune. The best option for harpists on a budget would be through rent-to-own options with reputed companies or purchasing a used harp. Dusty Strings and Stoney End have good quality options for decent prices. Rees Harps aren’t bad if you’re on a strict budget, and build-your-own harp kits are another good option.