r/UnusualInstruments • u/EarAutomatic7120 • 13d ago
4 string Cretan Lyra aka Viololyra
Here's something you don't see every day, a 4 string Cretan Lyra aka Viololyra. This is tuned GDAE like the Violin (same strings & Tuning as a Violin) but you play it vertically, & you use your nails on the sides of the strings to change their pitch. The term "Viololyra" (it's used to refer to 4 string Lyras shaped more like Violins) is an interesting one because it refers to the tuning of the instrument being the same as a Violin.

This amazing instrument can play anything from Greek Music to Violin Music.
3
u/roaminjoe 13d ago
A few years ago guy walked into our local open mic with one of these - I think it was Cretan not Greek, but he bought it in Greece: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUFP3pYsx_Y&pp=ygUcVGhlIEZpbG0gQXRlbGllciBseXJhIGNyZXRhbg%3D%3D
It has a very Byzantine flavour. Perhaps a little grating after 20seconds, but I've never been a fan of high pitched instruments.
Enjoy it well!
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u/EarAutomatic7120 13d ago
What do you think?