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Partying With The Glass Harp
It’s more fun
A glass harp is a musical instrument consisting of a wooden box containing 39 drinking glasses (preferably cognac glasses) filled with various levels of liquid to emulate the chromatic scale of a piano. The glass harp is played by sliding a wet finger on the rims of the glasses. The glass harp is tuned by varying (by adding or drinking) the levels of liquids in each of the glasses. The sound output is similar to an electronic synthesizer but with more resonance and vibrato, think of the original Star Trek theme.
Of course, I was like a million other guys who played guitar, had a band out of high school, gained some local fame playing cover band music, had some female attention and made infinitesimal amounts of money. Nowadays, if you go to a party, there will be 5 other guys who brought their guitars. Boriiiiiiiiiiiing!
People get excited when I show up with a glass harp because it is something different, they get interested if you tell them that they can play after 5 minutes of instruction. Instruct them to use the finger bowl to wet their fingers instead of inserting their fingers in their mouth or any other unknown place.
Why is it more fun to play a glass harp at parties? Simple, the glass harp requires liquids to make music and tuning it up is needed. There are open bars and kegs of beer at parties. The required liquid can be any type of liquid which means the most fun is in tuning the harp. I get a big kick in tuning up the harp. Those 5 guys who brought their guitars can play backup to my harp! Excuse me, I think the C-cup is an octave too high and I need to retune it.
Did you say you’re having a party?
