Hi Gelfling. I have a Bardic Harp (uses guitar strings) which I built from a kit. It makes a wonderful sound, and I use it mostly to improvise. I did learn a couple of tunes but I found it very time consuming. Playing chords to accompany yourself isn't too hard. If you're based in the UK Hobgoblin might help with strings, and the music shops here in Manchester have a few teach yourself Celtic harp books. Smoke me a kipper I'll be back for breakfast. PP