In 2002.
harp
A lever harp is usually smaller and had levers along the top of each string. A pedal harp is larger and had 7 pedals.
the piano or a pedal harp or concert harp
The pedal harp, as we know it today, was developed in the late 18th century, with significant contributions made by the French harp maker Sébastien Érard in the 1790s. Érard's innovations included the double-action mechanism, allowing for greater versatility in playing. This design became the standard for modern concert harps, marking the transition from earlier, simpler harps to the more complex pedal harps used in orchestras today.
I believe that the pedal is there for accidentals (sharps and flats). I believe that the strings on a harp are just the "regular" notes, like the white keys on a piano, and if you want sharps or flats you've got to pedal to get it.
so was the harp invented before the piano
A large pedal harp, typically used in orchestras.
depends on the size of the harp...usually the estimate is around 50+ for a pedal harp and 43 for a folk harp.
The modern pedal harp was developed in the early 19th century, with significant advancements occurring around the 1800s. The design was largely refined by instrument makers like Sébastien Érard, who patented the double-action pedal mechanism in 1810. Thus, the modern pedal harp has been around for approximately 200 years.
Pedal Harp
The harp has been around for thousands of years and dates back to the times of Mesopotamia. Therefore, there inventor of the harp or the exact year in which it was invented is not known.
Different types of harps have different numbers of strings. A standard concert pedal harp has 46 or 47 strings, whereas a lever harp has fewer strings.