Ancient depictions of harps were recorded in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), Persia (now Iran) and Egypt, and later in India and China.

[2][3] Other materials have included gut (animal intestines),[4] plant fiber,[4] braided hemp,[5] cotton cord,[6] silk,[7] nylon,[8] and wire.

[13] The oldest depictions of harps without a forepillar can be seen in the wall paintings of ancient Egyptian tombs in the Nile Valley, which date from as early as 3000 BCE.

[17] It has been referred to as the "national instrument" of the Jewish people,[18] and modern luthiers have created reproduction lyres of the kinnor based on this imagery.

By the start of the Common Era, "robust, vertical, angular harps", which had become predominant in the Hellenistic world, were cherished in the Sasanian court.

At the height of the Persian tradition of illustrated book production (1300–1600 CE), such light harps were still frequently depicted, although their use as musical instruments was reaching its end.

[24] One of the Sangam works, the Kallaadam recounts how the first yaaḻ harp was inspired by an archer's bow, when he heard the musical sound of its twang.

The Chinese konghou harp is documented as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE), and became extinct during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 CE).

[27] A similar harp, the Gonghu was played in ancient Korea, documented as early as the Goguryeo period (37 BCE – 686 CE).

[30][31]: 290  A harp with a triangular three-part frame is depicted on 8th-century Pictish stones in Scotland[30][31]: 290  and in manuscripts (e.g. the Utrecht Psalter) from early 9th-century France.

By the Baroque period in Italy and Spain, more strings were added to allow for chromatic notes in more complex harps.

The Paraguayan harp is that country's national instrument, and has gained a worldwide reputation, with international influences alongside folk traditions.

They have around 36 strings, are played with fingernails, and with a narrowing spacing and lower tension than modern Western harps, and have a wide and deep soundbox that tapers to the top.

It is relatively large, with a significantly increased volume of the resonator box, which gives basses a special richness.

[37] One of the most famous performers on the Andean harp was Juan Cayambe (Pimampiro Canton, Imbabura Province, Ecuador[38]) The arpa jarocha is typically played while standing.

[43] The "horn beaker with a feast acene", found inside a vessel in Nor Aresh and now preserved in the Erebuni Fortress, depicts a harp.

According to YSC professor, scholar of Middle Ages, doctor of Arts N. Tahmizyan, many musical instruments kept their pre-Christian form; among them is the harp, which was played not just at ceremonies.

The word has two meanings the second of which is stringed musical instrument which has the form of a triangular frame and this corresponds to the description of the musical instrument in Genesis 4:21 where it states Other uses of the word can be found in one of the songs of Grigor Narekatsi, a 10th century Armenian monk, medieval writer, and founder of Armenian Renaissance literature.

Pictures of the harp can be found in People and Everyday Life (Yerevan (1978) harvtxt error: no target: CITEREFYerevan1978 (help)) scientific work of Astghik Gevorgyan, a researcher at Matenadaran, the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Candidate in Arts.

[full citation needed] In the second picture the harp is played by a man who has a crown on his head, from which we may conclude that the musician has royal status.

[citation needed] This analysis and researches with the historical and archaeological evidence leads to the conclusion that the harp existed and was widely used in Armenians’ everyday lives, including royal families.

[citation needed] The concert harp is a technologically advanced instrument, particularly distinguished by its use of pedals, foot-controlled levers which can alter the pitch of given strings, making it chromatic and thus able to play a wide body of classical repertoire.

[52] The addition of pedals broadened the harp's abilities, allowing its gradual entry into the classical orchestra, largely beginning in the 19th century.

[55][56] In the modern era, there is a family of mid-size harps, generally with nylon strings, and optionally with partial or full levers but without pedals.

On a double-harp, the two rows generally run parallel to each other, one on either side of the neck, and are usually both diatonic (sometimes with levers) with identical notes.

Some harps, rather than using pedal or lever devices, achieve chromaticity by simply adding additional strings to cover the notes outside their diatonic home scale.

They generally use individual piezo-electric sensors for each string, often in combination with small internal microphones to produce a mixed electrical signal.

The late-20th century Gravikord is a modern purpose-built electric double harp made of stainless steel based on the traditional West African kora.

The top end of each string is secured on the crossbar or neck, where each will have a tuning peg or similar device to adjust the pitch.

Harpers and luthiers have developed various remedies to this limitation: These solutions increase the versatility of a harp at the cost of adding complexity, weight, and expense.