Autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars
attached to dampers which, when depressed, mute all the strings other than
those that form the desired chord. They usually come in 15 or 21 Chord Models.
Despite its name, the autoharp, also known as a Chordharp and Chromaharp
 is not a harp at all, but a zither.  The generic term for the instrument is chorded zither.

Brief History

There is debate over the origin of the autoharp. A German immigrant in Philadelphia
by the name of Charles F. Zimmermann patented in 1882 a design for a musical
instrument that included mechanisms for muting certain strings during play. He named
his invention the "autoharp". Unlike later autoharps, the shape of the instrument was 
symmetrical, and the felt-bearing bars moved horizontally against the strings instead of
vertically. It is not known if Zimmermann ever produced commercially any instruments
of this early design. Karl August Gütter of Markneukirchen, Germany had built a model
that he called a "Volkszither" which most resembles the Autoharp played today.

Gütter obtained a British patent for his instrument circa 1883-1884.
Zimmermann, after returning from a visit to Germany, began production
of the Gütter design in 1885 but with his own design patent number and catchy name.
Gütter's instrument became very popular and Zimmermann has often been mistaken as the inventor.

Modern Autoharps have 36 or 37 strings, although some examples with as many as 48
strings exist. They are strung in either diatonic (1, 2 or 3 key models) or chromatic scales.
Although the Autoharp is often thought of as a rhythm instrument, modern players are
quite capable of producing clear melodies. Diatonic players are able to play challenging
fiddle tunes up to speed by using open-chording techniques, "pumping" the damper
buttons while picking individual strings very accurately.
Skilled chromatic players can render music of surprising complexity.

Autoharps have been used in the United States as bluegrass and folk instruments,
perhaps most famously by Maybelle Carter and Sara Carter of The Carter Family.
They are relatively easy to learn to play as a rhythm instrument, but offer great
rewards to the more committed player as a melody instrument.

Some notable professional performers include:

• John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful

• Roger Penney of Bermuda Triangle Band

• Bryan Bowers

• Kilby Snow

• Mike Seeger

• Billy Connolly

• Harvey Reid

• Pop Stoneman

• Lyle Mays

• Kenneth and Neriah Benfield

• Karen Mueller

• Carol Stober

• Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues

• Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear (band)

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