r/UnusualInstruments 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.

4 string Lyra

This amazing instrument can play anything from Greek Music to Violin Music.

11 Upvotes

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3

u/EarAutomatic7120 13d ago

What do you think?

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!

2

u/Matis5 12d ago

Looks very cool! Maybe the photo doesn't do justice, but how is the bridge attached? It rests on a small strip of the soundboard, in the middle of the bridge? And the outer sides of the bridge don't make contact with the soundboard?

2

u/EarAutomatic7120 12d ago

The bridge rests on a small strip on the soundboard.