Autoharp

American  

[aw-toh-hahrp] / ˈɔ toʊˌhɑrp /

Trademark.

1. a zither having buttons that when depressed damp all strings except those to be sounded, the undamped strings being strummed to produce simple chords.

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Autoharp British  

/ ˈɔːtəʊˌhɑːp /

noun

1. a zither-like musical instrument used in country-and-western music, equipped with button-controlled dampers that can prevent selected strings from sounding, thus allowing chords to be played. It is plucked with the fingers or a plectrum

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Compare meaning

How does autoharp compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• zither vs. Autoharp

Example Sentences

She was a singer and songwriter praised for her versatility, playing at least five instruments: drums, guitar, piano, harmonica and autoharp.

From Seattle Times

In an interview with the music website I Have More Records Than Friends! in 2017, Lulu Santos, judge of the Brazilian version of The Voice, recalled seeing Rita Lee play autoharp at a concert.

From Seattle Times

Who will be left to play autoharp?

From New York Times

But throughout his career he showed a knack for wringing emotion not only from the violin, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer and autoharp, but also from the Indian tanpura, the Middle Eastern oud and the Turkish saz.

From New York Times

Though Cat Power’s original interpretation was stripped down to just the singer Chan Marshall’s voice and strums on an autoharp, Woolen had a composer overlay swelling strings as the drama became more fraught.

From New York Times