# Best position for a wind harp

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-position-for-a-wind-harp/714040>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 2, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-position-for-a-wind-harp/714040 "2015-03-02T20:16:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-position-for-a-wind-harp/714040/1 "2015-03-02T20:16:05Z")

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I have heard two things on this but I would think that there a definitive answer. A wind (Aeolean) harp has strings just above the sound board and uses just wind to vibrate the strings. Some say the wind should be parallel to the sound board so the string vibrates perpendicular to the sound board. The pro is that you can easily funnel the wind across the strings with a lid that leaves a small gap above the soundboard; the con is that the turbulence created by the first string will weaken the wind over the rest of the strings.

The second is that the soundboard is perpendicular to the sound board. Now the strings vibrate parallel to the sound board (like on a guitar) and the wind is equally strong across all of the strings.

So according to physics, which is best for producing a strong sound?

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-position-for-a-wind-harp/714040/2 "2015-03-02T23:01:07Z")

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If you live anywhere near me - the bin.

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**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-position-for-a-wind-harp/714040/3 "2015-03-02T23:05:41Z")

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I’d say at the bottom of a lake, but that would be cruel to the fish.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-position-for-a-wind-harp/714040/4 "2015-03-02T23:14:22Z")

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> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> … The second is that the soundboard is perpendicular to the sound board. Now the strings vibrate parallel to the sound board (like on a guitar) and the wind is equally strong across all of the strings. …

Underlining mine.

That sentence does not mean what you think it means.