An curved arrow pointing right. Pedal harps can cost $70,000 — far more than lever harps, which cost $2,000 to $9,000. At first glance, a pedal harp looks like a simple frame with a row of strings.

Playing a harp can be an expensive hobby — a high-end instrument can cost as much as a car. A budget model, however, might not hold its tuning very well, which can make for a frustrating playing ...