I just bought the 15 chord conversion kit from Elderly Instrument because I had bought a maple Oscar Schmidt Autoharp body that came without chord bars. It's been a bit of a nightmare because I broke three drill bits trying to alter the holes for the chord bar holders. As a relative newbie, I also have a few questions.
1. I went through all the songs I regularly sing to pick the chords, and came up with the following: Bb F C G D A (This is one of two chords I'm not sure about, because I don't use it very often.) C7 G7 D7 A7 E7 Gm Dm Am Em (This is the second that I rarely use.)
I've read MaryLou Orthey's book and downloaded another list of different setups for 15 bar chords. The one I like best (because it seems the most similar to the chords I regularly used is part of a 21 bar setup that George Orthey created for Nancy Carlisle.
With the chords I use (and with some adaptation), what seems to work best is the set up below. (Even George Orthey said he'd not run across the original 21 bar setup before.) The biggest change I'm making is moving the A from its position next to the D. However, I don't play Cm, and it does seem like what few A's I play are played with Bbs. Is there any huge problem problem with this set up? (I play on a table rather than Appalacian style.)
Top: A Gm Dm Am Em Middle: C7 G7 D7 A7 E7 Bottom: Bb F C G D
2. When I tried to glue on the chord buttons with silicone glue, they didn't stick. What glue should I use?
3. Some of the chords don't seem to uniformly dampen. Could it be because I'm trying to use three rows rather than two? Or, might it be a problem with the felt? Any tips on exactly where the chord buttons should go?
4. Does this black felt ever stop shedding itself on my Autoharp?