The autoharp is a zither-like musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers which, when depressed, mute all the strings other than those that form the desired chord. With the initial "a" capitalized, it is a registered trademark of the Oscar Schmidt Company.
Autoharps were first produced in Germany in 1890. They are have been commonly used in the United States as bluegrass and folk instruments. They are known for their short learning curve.
