Calgary busker delights commuters with an unusual instrument the autoharp

Most buskers provide a soundtrack to the rush-hour commute playing asaxophone or guitar, butbuskerDarryl Minskydoes itwith an unusualinstrument called anautoharp.

The former computer consultant has taken to playing in LRTstations and parks around the cityfor the enjoyment of passersby.

"I love seeing people smile or dance when I play ...it's a general recognition that it's a cool sound coming out of this thing," Minsky told the Eyeopener.

What's an autoharp?

The autoharp is a chordedzither a stringed folkmusical instrument that plays one chord by muting all other strings.

Although "harp" is in the name, the autoharp is not considered to be one, but it does sound a bitlike one.

According to Minsky, the beauty and ease of the autoharp is that, "You don't have to aim directly at the individual strings that you need to play a melody."

"It's simple to play. I often tell people that I could show them how to play it in five minutes," he said.

Minsky purchased the instrument at a local Goodwill store, tuned it, and taught himself how to play. He has been busking with the autoharp ever since.

He takes requests

After a decade of busking, Minsky has taken hundreds of requests, but his 'go-to' song is Hotel Californiaby the Eagles which also happens to be the most requested.

"The opening chords are so recognizable. Even though people may not know the name of the song, they often hum along," said Minsky.

Minsky busks on his own schedule, but his main stage is theBrentwoodLRTstation, followed closely by theDalhousie station.

With files from the Eyeopener