A lap harp is a Celtic instrument resembling a full-sized orchestral harp, but sized to be held on a sitting player's knees. Like all stringed instruments, the strings of a lap harp will periodically break and need to be replaced. In some cases, you can repair a broken string, but the process for restringing is similar either way. You can restring your harp in your own home.
Instructions
1. Determine if the string can be repaired or needs to be replaced. You cannot tie or glue a string back together at the middle because anything strong enough to hold it together will interfere with the vibrations. Therefore, you can only repair the string if it breaks or is frayed close to the bottom of the string, leaving enough of the string fully intact to reposition it and string it normally. If not, you will need to buy a new string of the appropriate size and restring.
2. Detach the string (or what remains of it). Using your tuning lever, unwind the harp string by turning the tuning peg counter clockwise until you can fully unwrap the string from the peg and pull it from the peg's hole. Next, reach inside and underneath the sound board (hollow portion) of the harp to grab the knotted end of the string from the other side and pull it out.
3. Reattach the string, or attach the new string. Tie a secure knot in one end (you might need to tie a double knot or attach a bead, which may be included with a new string), then thread the unknotted end of the string back up through the hole in the bottom of the soundboard. Thread it through the hole in the tuning peg, then turn the peg around a few times, pulling the string tight to overlap and wrap around its own end.
4. Tune the string by turning the tuning peg clockwise with the tuning peg. Test its pitch by comparing it to the strings an octave away, or use a piano or electric tuner.
