The autoharp is a fretless zither (not a harp) with 25 to 50 steel strings (most commonly 36 or 37) and a system of dampers to allow chords to be played.

Oscar Schmidt Inc., who manufacture autoharps (and ukuleles), have attempted to restrict the use of the name autoharp to their own instruments, but US courts have found that it has generic meaning, and only the autoharp trademark is restricted in usage, not the name. Oscar Schmidt instruments have 36 strings.

There's no standard tuning. Normally the tuning is printed on the instrument, and it varies enormously from model to model. Some autoharps are diatonic in one key, others are chromatic.

Some players modify the tunings, thus changing the available chords. These tunings are also model-dependent.

External links

• http://www.fretlesszithers.com/autoharp.html Autoharp gallery with descriptions

• http://www.fretlesszithers.com/gauges.html

• http://www.fretlesszithers.net/tuning.htm