Judaic, Biblical Harp

• The Biblical harp of King David, who is believed to have lived approximately 1,000 years before Christ, may have been tuned in the same manner as that of the music of Judaic worship known as the chazzan. In this style, the bass string, which is the largest of the strings on any stringed instrument, is tuned at D. The highest string is tuned to F. The complete order is: D, E, F, G#, A, B, C, D, E and F.
  
  

Secular Jewish Music

• The secularization of Jewish music resulted in what is referred to klezmer music played at weddings and other festive events. This music blended with various cultures such as Slavic, Greek, Turkish, Gypsy, and even American jazz. The ten-stringed harp for klezmer music is tuned with the bass string tuned to an E and the high string tuned to a G. The complete sequence is: E, F#, G, A#, B, C#, D, E, F# and G.
  
  

Alternative Tunings

• Some harpists might be more comfortable with other tuning formats. For harpists working with singers comfortable in the key of G, two other variations can be used in tuning the ten-stringed harp: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E, F# and G, with E being the bass and G the high string or D, E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E and F#.