Scarborough Fair for Beginners - Part 1 | Harp Lesson

Welcome to this beginner-friendly journey into one of the most beautiful folk songs on the harp - Scarborough Fair.
This timeless melody is the perfect introduction to the Dorian mode, a hauntingly beautiful modal landscape that sits somewhere between major and minor, carrying both yearning and hope in the same breath.

In this short lesson (Part 1), we'll explore:
✨ The simple tuning which can be used to access the Dorian mode (were simply tuned to the key of C major, but just starting on a different note

🎶 Getting started with Scarborough Fair - learning the opening melody in a gentle, step-by-step way

🎵 Simple tuning setup - I'll show you exactly how to tune your harp for this beautiful mode (it's easier than you think!)

🌿 Playing by feel, no sheet music in this lesson, so you can focus on playing and not need to try and decrypt little dots and lines.

No prior experience with modes needed - if you can play a few notes on your harp, you're ready for this. The Dorian mode is one of the most accessible and rewarding modes to explore, and Scarborough Fair is the perfect song to begin your modal journey with.

This is just Part 1 - we're laying the foundation and getting comfortable with the melody. In future lessons, we'll dive deeper into harmonies, variations, and improvisation around this timeless tune.

📖 Want to dive deeper into modal harp playing, improvisation, and therapeutic music?
I'm building the Strings of Hope membership - a warm, supportive community for harpists who want to play with soul, connect to ancient melodies, and learn by ear and heart (not just sheet music).
Sign up here to be notified when the doors open:
👉 https://strings-of-hope.kit.com/8ef01...

Hope you enjoy this lesson!
Till next time, stay tuned 🎶
Simcha

P.S. If you have questions or want to share your experience with this lesson, drop a comment below - I'd love to hear from you!

#harplessons #dorian #folkmusic