String Worksheet

With additional information on sharping lever placement.

    This page is intended to provide supplemental information on the string set for this harp project.  From the information on this page, it would be possible for one to plot the harmonic curve of this harp onto one's own plans, and very nearly duplicate the harp I am building in this project.  I would have to call the table on this page a "modified string schedule".  Normally, a string schedule (or worksheet) would not contain any information on sharping lever locations.  I have included them here for your information, as this seems to be the most often requested explanation.  If it hasn't been mentioned elsewhere in this project, this would also be a good place to state that the standard string spacing for Celtic and Irish Folk harps is 5/8".

STRING #:  In this column, you list the strings starting with the shortest string, which is always string #1.

NOTE:  Here you list the desired note the string will be tuned to.

VIBRATING LENGTH:  Here you will list the distance from the face of the soundboard to the bridge pin for each string.  For the purpose of string ordering, measuring to the nearest 1/4" is sufficient.  I have measured these to the nearest 1/8" to provide more accurate calculations for the sharping lever placement.

DIAMETER AND WRAP SPECS:  Leave these fields blank.  This information will be filled in by the string set supplier.  These values are generated as a product of the length and desired note for each string.  They have a really cool computer program that calculates the optimum string diameter, material and wrap.  I have filled in these fields here with the information supplied by the maker of the string set.  This is to give you a better idea of what to expect.  But when you are initially generating your own string schedule, you don't need to worry about them.

COLOR:  Red for "C"s and Blue or Black or "F"s, with clear (*) for all other strings is the standard for Celtic, Irish Folk and Pedal harps.

LEVER POSITION:  This column I have added for your information only.  The theoretical position of the sharping lever is calculated by multiplying the vibrating length of a string by .0555.  The product of this formula is the distance the string must be shortened to raise it's tone by 1/2 of a whole note.  This is a physical constant, and will work for every string on every harp.  So the product of each calculation is the distance below the bridge pin where you will be mounting the sharping lever.   In actual application, other variables come into play, such as string mass and degree of deflection.  These variables will effect the final position of your lever, but that's why levers are made with slotted mounting holes.   More details will be explained in that phase of the project.   

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