I've seen and heard autoharps for years, and always assumed that they'd be REALLY easy to play.

I actually picked one up for the first time a month or two ago, and while playing "lap style" did not pose a problem at all, I was not able to play it while holding it against my chest in a standing position (which seems to be the normal professional-performer procedure). Couldn't see the buttons and the chord-name labels, for one thing. Also, with one hand strumming/picking and the other pressing the chord button, I couldn't figure out how to support the damn thing and not drop it on the floor. You are apparently not supposed to need a strap.

I'm sure that a few pointers and an hour or so of practice would suffice to get a beginner past these problems, but I'm reporting about how surprised I was to have any difficulty at all...