autoharp
A chorded zither with damper bars that mute unwanted strings, allowing the player to strum full chords with one hand while pressing chord buttons with the other.
In Depth
The autoharp was patented in 1882 by Charles F. Zimmermann, though its design was likely influenced by earlier European instruments. It consists of 36 or 37 strings stretched across a flat body, with felt-padded bars (one per chord) that dampen all strings except those belonging to the desired chord. The player presses a button to engage a bar and strums or picks the strings with the other hand.
The autoharp became a staple of American folk, country, and Appalachian music, particularly through Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family, who played it on many early country recordings. Sara Carter also played autoharp on the Carter Family's groundbreaking 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings. The instrument is prized for its accessibility — a complete beginner can produce pleasant chords immediately — while advanced players like Bryan Bowers have demonstrated its capacity for virtuosic solo performance and melodic picking.
The Carter Family's autoharp playing was so influential that the instrument became synonymous with early country music — Maybelle Carter's autoharp now resides in the Country Music Hall of Fame.