Why is a harp shaped how it is?

Answer 1

The construction and playing method of these instruments are quite different:

* Harp: Strings are plucked by the player

* Violin: Strings are bowed by the player * Piano: Mechanical hammers hit the strings, played by the player

Answer 2

The pitch of a vibrating string is related to its length. All other things being equal, if the length of the string is doubled, its pitch is an octave lower. A harp with a range of several octaves must have some very short and very long strings, all strung on the same frame. That leads to the characteristic curved shape of the neck of a harp.

Of course, there are a number of compromises that have to be made in the design of the harp. If the strings really doubled in length with each lower octave, the bass strings would have to be over 30 feet long! The shape of the neck is just one factor that harp designers use to create a workable instrument.

Answer 3

A harp is a large instrument with many strings that you pluck with your fingers.

A violin is an instrument with only 4 strings that you can pluck with your fingers and you may also play with a bow that is made out of horse hair.

Answer 4

Harps are different from some other stringed instruments in obvious ways- for instance, it is different from the violin and cello in the way that the strings are plucked instead of being played by drawing a bow across them. It of course has a very different tone to it.

It is different from the piano in the way that there are no separate strings for sharps or flats- you either have to use pedals or levers to change the pitches. It is very similar for the most part, because you can play arpeggios, block chords, harmonies, melodies, countermelodies, glissandos, and you physically move your hand up and down the harp to play different octaves, just like you move your hand up and down octaves on the piano.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

I think that like a bass, it can't be "fixed" once the strings break

Answer 6

they have more strings