Q 01/05

How are the strings of a harp sounded?

A) Plucked with the fingers

B) Bowed with horsehair

C) Struck with hammers

D) Blown across by air

Answer · why

A) Plucked with the fingers

Harps can be played seated or standing, and are almost always triangular and made of wood.

Q 02/05

How many strings does a typical modern pedal harp have?

A) 36

B) 42

C) 47

D) 52

Answer · why

C) 47

That gives a range of six and a half octaves.

Q 03/05

How many pedals does a concert harp have?

A) Three

B) Twelve

C) Five

D) Seven

Answer · why

D) Seven

Each pedal changes the pitch of every string of one note name, so pressing C sharpens every C.

Q 04/05

On a pedal harp, what colour are the C strings?

A) Black

B) Green

C) Blue

D) Red

Answer · why

D) Red

The F strings are dark and the rest are white, so the player can find notes at a glance.

Q 05/05

Roughly what total tension do the strings exert on a pedal harp's soundboard?

A) About a ton

B) About 5 tons

C) About 20 tons

D) About 100 kilograms

Answer · why

A) About a ton

The instrument itself weighs only about 36 kilograms and stands about 1.8 metres tall.