I have just taken up the Autoharp (with a rental 'harp to make sure I have talent) and have discovered that my arms are too short to play upright. I can't reach around to the buttons on the chord bars without bruising the heck out of my left forearm. Is there no hope for me to play in this fashion? It seems as though I could get custom bars with the buttons further over, but then it will be harder to play cross-handed lap style (plus the fact that by the time I buy a quality 'harp and have custom bars put on it will cost as much as a small car). Are there smaller 'harps (without going to a child's 7 chord or whatever)?

For the time being I am playing cross-handed lap style. I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions?

Thanks!