AutoHarps and Zithers

Aug 8, 2016 14:39:23 GMT -5 RobertW said:

Aug 7, 2016 22:02:33 GMT -5 Jim said:

Surprised they and you are calling the 3 chord Zither an Autoharp which a chordkeyboard.

The Zither has no keyboard,  and has 3 or 5 3-string sections tuned to chords.  Normally playing melody and chord.

I could be wrong.. I cant see all of the 1st instrument. It may have a keyboard )

or do we call
it a chord board

The above post credits your quote to me.  I didn't say the quote that comes after phjim said:
Rather than "chordkeyboard" or "chord board" it is usually called a "chord bar assembly".

Joann is playing an autoharp in the first video.  Since it is a diatonic 'harp, it has fewer chords than a chromatic autoharp, but it does have a chord bar assembly.  The advantage to a diatonic 'harp is that it has a much richer sound, since many of the strings are doubled and it allows some melody notes to be obtained without depressing a chord bar.  This is sometimes referred to by the nonsensical term "open chording".
A disadvantage to the diatonic 'harp is that I can only be played in one (or two if it's a semi-diatonic) key.  You also can't play complicated chords on a diatonic harp.  It is great for folk songs and fiddle tunes.
I the above videos, Joann, Karen and Bryan are playing diatonic 'harps while Maybelle is playing a chromatic.

This is a semi-diatonic 'harp (It plays in two keys, G and D). 

This is a guitar zither.  It has 5 chords to the left and melody strings.  I don't actually play this.  It's a wall hanger.

This one is a mandolin zither.  The same configuration as the guitar zither except it has only 4 chords and the melody strings are arranged in 2 string courses like a mandolin.  I don't play this one either, but it has some sentimental value since it belonged to a family member.

This is a Concert zither, a legitimate instrument that has a keyboard at the side instead of chords.
I don't own this one.  I found the photo on Google images.

Robert,
I have several playable autoharps which I have arranged in different keys. I prefer the old A style 'harps, with the square edges, from the mid-sixties, after they started using rectangular buttons. I have never paid more than $40 for an Autoharp, but I always put a lot of time and effort into getting them playable and modified to suit my needs.  Most of them have been re-finished and all have had new strings put on. The strings cost me more than the instrument. 
Before buying these old 'harps I always inspect them carefully to see if they are repairable.  Many are not, so I would be reluctant to buy a used A model 'harp on line.  My favourites are two Appalachian Autoharps and a black box, all from about 1967.

This is a 1967 black box by O.S. that I re-finished, using an ebony stain rather than the black paint it originally had.  I love he way the grain shows through the black stain.  I modified it to play as an A/E semi-diatonic.  Two key 'harps are best made in keys a fifth apart (or a fourth, depending on which direction you count) in order to get as many double strings as possible.  I also like to move the chord bar assembly as close to the base of the 'harp as possible to give myself more access to the high strings.

RobertW is has pointed out the most important thing to know when you're learning melody autoharp. Once I discovered this, everything came together.

To accompany the first line of Wildwood Flower you would play these chords:
(C) I will twine with my mingles of (G7) waving black (C) hair

To play the melody on the 'harp you'd use these chords:

(C) I (G7) will (C) twine (F) with (C) my ming(G7)les (C) of (G7) wa(C)ving (G7) black (C) hair