GLOSSARY

PEDAL HARPS

Béquilles: small crutch-shaped devices used in pairs on some pedal harps to shorten the sounding length of the string.

Crochets: small metal L's, drawn by the action towards the neck to shorten the sounding length of the string.

Damper: a rare accessory device used to stop the vibrations of the strings. It may be found either beside the soundboard eyelets or beneath the action.

Discs: small metal discs (oval or round) with projecting prongs used in single or double actions to shorten the sounding length of the string.

Double action: a mechanism capable of shortening the sounding length of the string by one and by two semitones.

Extended soundboard: a soundboard with curved "wings" extending beyond the limits of the body of the harp.

Eyelets: the linings of the holes in the soundboard through which the strings pass.

Hooks: small metal U's, Z's or staples turned by hand or mechanically to shorten the sounding length of the string.

Pedals: the levers at the back of the base of the harp that engage the action when activated by the harpist's feet.

Shutters: small wooden doors sometimes found covering the soundholes in the back of old pedal harps.

Single action: a mechanism capable of shortening the sounding length of the string by only one semitone.

String Pegs: the small pegs inserted in the soundboard string holes to retain the string.

Tuning pins: movable pegs, set in the neck of the harp, around which one end of the string is wound in order to tune the harp.

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