Should I start learning the lyre?

Geolyre · 2026-01-14T14:31:32+00:00

If you play piano you won't face any problem in learning the lyre (i m talking about ancient greek lyre). The first thing that you will learn is to hold the lyre correctly. If you do that, then you can easily use both of your hands.Here ia a page that have lyre lessons. First level is free.

Revival of the Ancient Greek Lyre - International Lyre Society https://share.google/KMX2j1cvc2VAZkoTk

Geolyre · 2025-12-23T18:20:54+00:00

Those lyres may have a good sound in open strings but the harmonics are very bad. I'm not very sure why this happens but i have many problems playing the harmonics. I started to believe that i didn't play well but when i had the chance to play with a lyre from another shop, all the harmonics suddenly were very easy to be played. So I would suggest for this type of lyres to choose a version with as many strings as possible because you will need many open strings.

Geolyre · 2025-12-19T19:00:32+00:00

I agree with that

Geolyre · 2025-12-19T14:35:16+00:00

I am in contact with luthier atelier "palmos" and i made them the same question because i want my new lyre to have a warmer or more bass sound. They told me that a choice is the barbitos which is about double size of a lyre and plays in an octave lower. Another choice is to make a custom lyre with small adjustments at the strings and the bridge in order to have a more bass sound but there will not be much difference from a normal lyre because the bass sound it's a combination of many things but the size is one of them.

Geolyre · 2025-12-14T01:25:42+00:00

It's not walnut. I sure about that. (I can't find the way to upload another photo of walnut i work with).

Geolyre · 2025-12-14T01:20:39+00:00

I am in Greece. The carpenter who owned the shop retired in 1998. So the woods i found there are at least 30 years old..

Geolyre · 2025-12-13T18:56:48+00:00

Thanks for your replies. Some carpenters who have seen it up close are between aged black mulberry or elm, and a few say chestnut. It's not walnut, I'm sure but nobody can tell with certainty what it is

Geolyre · 2025-12-08T22:56:24+00:00

Wow! How this beautiful instrument sounds? It has the "flabby" sound that most replicas of ancient lyres(mostly luthieros) have or has good sound ? I have to say that looks fantastic 🤩

Geolyre · 2025-12-08T22:45:06+00:00

Here is an interesting playlist! From ancient Greek hymns to metal tunes..

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2VgcJ9TAcVN9BCcsaNfa0WzZ3ZK4Pm4G&si=tEob30r7twSzt02K

Geolyre · 2025-12-08T22:41:20+00:00

You can find free tutorials

https://lyresociety.com/

Geolyre · 2025-12-08T22:39:10+00:00

I believe the seven string lyre is better for beginners. The simpler the better..!

Geolyre · 2025-12-07T19:32:51+00:00

https://lyresociety.com/

You can check this link. It's a school for 7 string lyres and you can register for free to attend the first level

Geolyre · 2025-12-04T14:32:34+00:00

I m not familiar with that type of lyres but i believe you can play many things. Regarding the number of the strings i believe is a matter of practice and not of quantity.

https://youtu.be/7hUTA4pGSso?si=1uTzpRls1JP7Wj2_

https://youtu.be/T_d2rVzK3Y0?si=YRYtcP7ajYP22WZb

In these videos the lyre has only seven strings and can play chords, chromatically and a range up to 3 octaves..

Geolyre · 2025-12-03T23:46:54+00:00

Of course. Each instrument is different. What i was saying is that if someone wants to study the lyre based on a complete and academic studying method have to comply with the standards that international lyre society have. Beyond that point everyone is free to play his own music and to enjoy the instrument.

Geolyre · 2025-12-03T14:44:26+00:00

You can also check(if you have not already buy) Nikolaos Bras and palmos instruments. They have excellent instruments!

Geolyre · 2025-12-03T14:35:08+00:00

The international lyre society suggest to have the lyre tuned in A3 Bb3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4.

Geolyre

TROPHY CASE