With regard to picks. I have used a plastic thumb pick plus steel finger picks ever since I bought my first autoharp, but recently here in the Isle of Man we have started an autoharp group and one of the more experienced players pointed out that plastic finger picks can be moulded to the shape you require by steeping them for a short time in warm water. I am going to try this out myself as I find the steel picks have a habit of catching and pulling off if I am playing too enthusiastically.