Choosing Your First Lyre Harp: A Buyer’s Guide

Scotland is a beautiful country and notable worldwide for the history it has. Other traditional entities also add to its fame including Scottish music. Historical records suggest that the tradition of Scottish music dates back nearly 2,300 years. They have numerous traditional instruments to play music while the “lyre harp” is a pretty popular name. It is a stringed instrument that was invented in ancient Greece and other cultures including Highlanders, adopted it over time. In fact, it still is a highly acceptable and widely used traditional musical instrument there. This guide aims to highlight some exceptional tips to choose your first lyre harp. Before we start the discussion about choosing one, let us clarify what this tool exactly is.

Understanding the Lyre Harp

A lyre harp is a string-based musical instrument that primarily has a U-shaped frame. It has numerous styles and designs. Being a portable feature adds it to the wishlist of many music players. Besides style and designs, lyre harps have different sizes and strings are primary factors to decide their size. Traditionally it is a wooden utensil, like other Scottish musical equipment. Besides the strings, the rest of the parts are a soundbox, arms, yokes, a bridge, and tuning pins.

Types of Lyre Harps

Two things classify lyre harps in variations. The first one is their design. Some utensils have Celtic designs, while the rest have Greek styles. Similarly, another factor is the number of strings. An average lyre harp has 7-26 strings, and most of the strings are metal-made. However, nylon and gut have also become popular choices.

Key Factors to Consider When Buying

Many may not be aware of the fact that lyre harps are considered the easiest musical tools to learn. The other instruments, including the flute and bagpipes, are not suitable for beginners. That’s why even the new learners do not hesitate to take a step and buy one for learning. If you also plan the same, do not rush towards the market; take a breath, and first read these expert tips to keep your investment secure.

Number of Strings and Sound Production

Strings are responsible for producing sounds. So, you should know what number of strings is suitable for you. When buying the first harp, your skill level also matters a lot here. If you have a bit of experience, prefer choosing 14-16 strings; otherwise, 7-10 would be a smart choice for a total beginner.

Material and Craftsmanship

Do not undervalue the material of your musical system because it is what decides how lasting it will be. In the same manner, the level of craftsmanship is also an important factor. Tortoise shells were commonly used for their construction during the beginning era, but today, wood has become the standard material. As a first-time buyer, ensure that the harp is made from high-quality materials and crafted by a skilled maker.

Tuning Stability

The next factor is to check the tuning stability of the product. Check whether it is easy to tune and whether levers are easy to control depending on your skill level. If both of these aspects sound positive to you, purchase it for your convenience.

Size and Portability

Comfort is the primary thing when choosing a lyre harp, regardless of being an experienced player or a learner. In such a situation, the instrument’s size rises as a culprit or even a volunteer. A majority of Irish or Scottish musicians prefer it because of these features. If you also find them important, do not skip these features when making a decision.

Accessories Included

While buying a lyre harp for the first time, you must know that most of the sellers provide many tuning accessories with the instrument. Make sure to buy one that is made with good-quality material and has all components, such as a lyre harp, tuning key, string set, and its bag.

Sound Quality and Resonance

The sound quality and resonance of every lyre harp differs from each other. Thus, the role of material quality is important here. So, ensure checking the quality of sound by playing it once before you buy it. Visually inspect the wires and skip it if you find any of them broken as it will not produce the expected sounds.

Transporting and Storing Your Lyre Harp

Have you ever travelled with a lyre harp? Did you take precautions to prevent it from breakage? If no, and it still landed safely with you, pay regards to your luck. Be careful next time as good fortune may always not favor you. When making a journey with your lyre harp, ensure covering it properly and storing it in a padded or hard bag where it fits well.

The accurate fit will prevent it from breakage on bumpy roads or the turbulence on the plain. In case you do not have a bag, make sure to place it in the corner, so two walls may support it. Do not place anything hard near it because both of them can damage each other if any of them fall.

Additional Tips for First-Time Buyers

So far, we’ve covered essential tips to help first-time buyers choose the right lyre harp. Now we will tell you some more tips that are not only buying tips but also serve as a way to learn what you should avoid while buying a lyre harp.

• If you are buying your tool by visiting a store in person, try it as a priority. In the case of an online purchase, read reviews and comments to know how others found it.
• You can join online communities of lyre harp players and those who have experience buying tools. You will find their suggestions quite helpful.
• Avoid buying cheaper products and stay away from untrustworthy brands such as The Utility Kilt.

Above all, closely inspect the musical tool and do not buy it if you find some red flags, such as poor material, any part broken, or sound that does not satisfy you.

Some Amazing Lyre Harps New Player Should Consider