Comparing 16 String LYRE HARPS. Which is BEST? | Solid Body? Hollow? Deer? Sound Hole? (Aklot Lyres)

Review & comparison of three 16 string lyre harps. I'll show you how they differ in playability and sound!
00:00 Intro
00:52 Similarities
01:05 Difference #1 - String Accessibility
01:55 Difference #2 - String Spacings
03:40 Difference #3 - The Pickup
04:24 Difference #4 - The Bridge
05:02 Difference #5 - Playing Upright
05:52 Difference #6 - The Back
06:18 Sound Test
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Channels mentioned in this video (check them out if you haven't already!):
Joy Abad: / joyabad
Janine Faye: / janinefaye
Music Bloomer: / @musicbloomer312
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🌈 My Lyre Harps🌱
✔️ 16 String Solid Body: amzn.to/3eDe1QG
✔️ 16 String Hollow Deer: amzn.to/3knJJ7e
✔️ 16 String Hollow Round: amzn.to/3zIyJYC
✔️ 7 String: amzn.to/3aMf13R
(These are affiliate links to Amazon. It means I get a small commission if you choose to buy a product through these links.)
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🍎 Support me on Patreon and get exclusive downloads to the Notes Sheets of ALL my covers! Visit / samanthaonmars .
☕ Or make a one-time donation: www.buymeacoffee.com/Samantha... .

[@giulianacr2638]

The deer design has the best low notes, but the practicalities are challenging. I think the hollow design is my favorite :)

[@damien678]

This makes me happy to hear because I really love low notes and am gravitating way more to the deer one for... aesthetic reasons lol

[@terrenceoday9493]

For beginners of the lyre, here's a tip regarding lyres and sheet music. Helps learning when you see the strings of the lyre corresponding to the lines and spaces of the music staff.

[@bananat0fu]

Yes, this also applies to the guitar and ukulele as well.

[@terrenceoday9493]

@@bananat0fu Well, each string of the lyre only plays one note. Each string of the guitar and lyre plays multiple notes. Which is why I prefer the lyre! lol

[@bananat0fu]

@@terrenceoday9493 Yeah, that's understandable. Tbh on the Guitar and ukulele I usually just use tabs loll. The lyre is probably going to be easier for me since I have had some trouble with that loll

[@violettracey]

Thanks!

[@ArtificialFertilizer]

Are there arrangements specifically for the lyre?

[@daeseanboyd]

Personally the hollow deer design with the strings closest together, sounds far more rich than the other two... that's just my perspective the other two are fantastic as well though

[@damien678]

Oh, does the space between strings effect that? Really interesting to know!

[@MrEmiosk]

@@damien678 it does. But another thing that is important is that they are centred more on the hollow vibrator box. That is how it sound more full and mellow as you get more vibration/sound into and through the hollow body.

[@Gothfield]

I like the sound of the bowl design best, but the clear and loud low notes on the deer design, coupled with the resonance make it extremely desirable from a jam session perspective. In a tight sesh I like it when we adjust the volume of our play to the most quiet note on the quietest instrument.

[@choccomint0838]

I love all of them me the solid bowl sounds better but I think I'd buy the hollow round one

[@GinkgoKalimba]

Solid bowl 7:16 8:22 Hollow roud 7:37 8:50 Hollow deer 8:00 9:18

[@SoftKitteh]

I have an Aklot classical style (deer head) with 16 strings and I'm loving the pure, clear sound of it. I'm having no trouble with the strings being a bit closer together. I'm just having a lot of fun learning how to play it! It's very comfortable to hold and one day I'm going to learn to play with 2 hands and that's where this style will come in handy. Highly recommended.

[@george3046]

I love the sound of the solid bowl! But I'm a bit more comfortable with the hollow deer. Thank you!

[@randomforester_462]

Thanks for including links to the harps. Makes it easier to avoid shitty sites/products.

[@tannerlong9893]

I have a hollow 16 and solid 24 and just ordered a hollow 27. The solid is nice but I feel like the hollow is louder, more crisp, and has more resonance. I find that these differences are audible in the video but are more pronounced in person. But really, they all sound good.

[@giulianacr2638]

Woah! Your review is really thorough. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and demonstration 🙏

[@SamanthaonMars]

You're so welcome!

[@marylim1501]

@@SamanthaonMars help me buy one plse

[@alicema8058]

Beautiful rendition Samantha ! Thank you so much👍👍👍

[@SamanthaonMars]

You're so welcome! Glad you liked my sharing.

[@lspthrattan]

Been looking for the answers to these very questions--thank you!

[@SamanthaonMars]

Glad it helped!

[@NatureisBeautifulxO]

Thank you! I just ordered my first and got the bowl lyre. Im so excited.

[@isisphlyx]

Am getting one lyre, your video made it clear what i need.

[@lurklingX]

ok this review is AMAZING. i had just gotten curious about these the other day and you are my first deep dive, but this is EXACTLY the sort of stuff i need to know, and wouldn't know to look up (becuz new :) ). i love how you go through the form, playing style/hold, string placement, bridge, etc. wow. -- i'm about to hit the sound test, which is honestly all i thought this comparison was going to be about. color me impressed. and that you did it short and to the point without a lot of extra fillers. thanks for this excellent springboard into these little harps!

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you so much! There was so little information about lyres out there. Having not one but three lyres myself, I realized I was in a great position to make this comparison video. Just trying to help others out. :)

[@lurklingX]

@@SamanthaonMars Well, thank you so much for sharing! I’m the type of person to just buy several versions of things to “try them out“ and educate myself as much as possible. But then that ends up bankrupting a person. 😂😅 so I try to see if other people have already sort of done similar. So I don’t do that in ALL areas. (but it’s still so hard NOT to! i’m literally right now looking at lyres, Harps and kalimbas)

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@lurklingX As a person with many interests myself, I feel you! Wow you play the violin and the piano too. That's awesome!

[@lurklingX]

@@SamanthaonMars * Learning. 😂 unfortunately Covid stopped my in-person lessons for violin. And then the piano I just wasn’t able to keep up with after my father passed. But I will come back to it. well, to both really. I just always loved how certain instruments sound, and even if I can only attain a beginner level of playing, that’s better than never trying. They feel mysterious. And I just want to unravel some of the mystery, to the best of my ability. I really like the sound of harps but never figured I would be playing a huge upright instrument such as that, and didn’t realize until the other day how much lyres can really make a similar sound. :) - yeah I agree it would be impressive if I was good at playing all of this, 😂 lol but no I’m just a beginner. A beginner with probably lofty aspirations. especially seeing as I am going to try guitar now. (I think thats one people have a lot of luck with self training. And hopefully the stupid pandemic will settle down. 👍)

[@vivianeb90]

A perfect review. Thank you!

[@user-hexnut]

I've been playing the kalimba and got really curious about lyre. This helped me choose which one to get. Thank you very much!

[@mylena3086]

Thank you so much! Such a good reference for my lyremaking project 🙏💚 I like the first two ones best And I'm also making designs in consideration of children and how they'd play a lyre With less strings but great sound and haptic qualities Again, Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put out this amazing content 👏😊

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you so much for your kind words on my video! It makes me happy to hear you're making designs for children. What a cool idea! I feel like the lyre doesn't always get the recognition it deserves, so it's awesome that you're taking an interest in making it enjoyable for kids. ❤

[@danielleohallisey4218]

Wow! Thank you for such a thorough review!

[@SamanthaonMars]

You're welcome! I'm glad you appreciated my review. :)

[@NishmanFortnite]

This really helped me. Thank You!

[@agreenrock5584]

I would like to say thank you so much!! I got the lyre for my birthday a month ago and I have improved so much using your help! I have learned so many songs with your tutorials!! I am super lucky that you play some Genshin songs because I absolutely love Genshin!! It’s also one of the reasons why I wanted a lyre. I have a small request. Is it alright if you could make a tutorial about Genshin? The song is “A Bards Adventure” it’s venti’s theme. I want to dress up as venti for Halloween and would love to learn that song to play on Halloween! I will continue to learn from you. Have a happy Halloween and day!!! :DDD Also! It is okay if you do not wish to play the song. It is not the end of the world. You are a busy person so I will not beg you to make a tutorial. Just wanted to add that in! Okay bye

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hello! Thank you for the message. Aww... You're very sweet! 🥰 I'm happy to know you've learned so many songs in just one month. It's all your talent and hard work! I was just sharing the notes I used. For the most part, "A Bard's Adventure" is too complicated for me. 😅 I don't know how to arrange the part right after the beginning, when the other instruments start to join in. Sorry about that! As to song ideas for Halloween, check out "Cutie Patootie Uwuwu". She covers a lot of Genshin music for the lyre harp, with the notes too. I hope her channel will give you some more options. Have a fun and happy Halloween!

[@CynfulExotics]

Thanks for such a well put together video. Think I'm going with hollow as my first lyre. But I'll probably eventually get bowl and deer. It's like kalimbas.. can't have just one! 😆

[@SamanthaonMars]

Do you know you're person who inspired this video? 😆

[@CynfulExotics]

@@SamanthaonMars oooh yay!

[@lurklingX]

omg kalimbas......... i'm actually looking at both at the same time. discovered them both like yesterday or day before.

[@CynfulExotics]

@@lurklingX I have 11 kalimbas now. 😜

[@lurklingX]

@@CynfulExotics 😂😂😂😂😂😂 oh my god that sounds like me. Guilty of getting EVERYTHING, just to “try things out and know what the best things are“ jeebus 🤣👌

[@wendylord1284]

Thank you, I have been looking at learning to play the Lyre. Its wonderful. I really enjoyed the demonstration and information. You play very well. I love all three for many reasons, The solid bowl appeals to me visually. But I really loved the sound from the deer. I am actually thinking of Building my own from a Music makers Kit. I will be looking for your tutorials.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Glad you enjoyed it! I admire people who build beautiful things with their hands. This is something I can't do myself. I wish you all the best in picking or making a lyre.

[@brasildiegopro]

I've just bought the hollow round design lyre. Your videos brought back my childhood wish to learn how to play the lyre. Thank you!

[@SamanthaonMars]

I believe it's never too late to pursue your passions. :) Has your new lyre arrived yet?

[@brasildiegopro]

@@SamanthaonMars Yes. It arrived last week.

[@imrlaps7097]

Great video, very helpful. I've subscribed to you because I've watched quite a few of your videos now, and I think you'll be very helpful to me in my learning. So, I'll be learning from 3 sources. That's a pretty good amount I think.

[@SamanthaonMars]

I'm happy to help! The reason I make videos is because there are so few resources out there for the lyre harp. What other sources are you learning from, if you don't mind me asking?

[@MrJohnstone15]

I wasn't sure I wanted one until you played love me tender. Now I want one.

[@wade4452]

I definitely like the solid body. I build a variety of flutes, and I feel this would be a wonderful instrument for accompaniment. Thank you for your review. Very informative of these less expensive harps😊

[@lspthrattan]

Me too! I've started on "fipple" flutes this year, and was thinking that a lyre would be an excellent pair with any flute, transverse or fipple. I'm leaning towards the solid body design as well. Hope you're enjoying your musical journey as much as I am!

[@wade4452]

@@lspthrattan Oh yes, I'm having a wonderful time. What I love so much about these instruments is that even a person without classical training can pick them up and produce sound that's pleasing to the soul. I go out and play my Native American flute that I made, one of them, a low- D 5 hole, every morning as a sun's coming up just to great the day, and all of the little birds, the squirrels have gotten to where they all start tweeting and coming closer so that they can, I guess hear the flute😊. Seems that all wildlife enjoys those sounds and they start making their own little music wherever they're sitting and I thoroughly enjoy it I'm just having a blast.

[@uksumo6843]

Thanks for this great review, I'm buying a lyre harp for my gf as a gift and this has not only giving me faith in the brand but also which type to buy to.😉👍

[@SamanthaonMars]

You're welcome! :)

[@violettracey]

Thanks! This was very useful to me!

[@SamanthaonMars]

Glad it helped! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask in the comments! :)

[@captflack6371]

just found this but what a great video, well done

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you for saying that. I appreciate it!

[@TechnoGlowStick]

This is amazing! I'm still looking around, for a small instrument, and the lyre seems pretty cool. 😃

[@larryhoyt143]

Thanks for sharing!

[@simgoober4575]

Very informative! 👍

[@irene1234]

Great review.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thanks! Glad it's been helpful. :)

[@connieLo87365]

Thank You Samantha. very helpful. Thank you.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you so much. Glad you found it helpful!

[@anythingartificial]

Amazing explanation

[@SamanthaonMars]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Iceland874]

I got the first one and am very happy with it

[@Thablet]

This is so wonderfully helpful! I've been thinking of picking up a lyre for a while now (it's all Venti's fault, I swear), but the past few months have been pretty harsh on me emotionally and financially. Now things are finally starting to look up a little, and I'm thinking I might be able to afford myself a treat. Especially as I've read in comments that lyre playing has helped with anxiety and stress and ADHD? I'm pretty tone deaf though, and by now I've long since forgotten how to read sheet music. 😅

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. Thank you for the appreciation! ❤ Playing the lyre can be a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. I have a 7-string pentatonic lyre just for this purpose. And don't worry if you're tone deaf or can't read sheet music. This is something that you can definitely learn. I wish you all the best, and I hope things work out for you soon!

[@MonsterBunx]

Hey hey! I'm about to get a lyre (btw your videos are so helpful!) and I wanted to know if you recommend a lyre with more space between the strings or is it okay to start out with strings that are close together. Is there much of a difference except for needing to adjust for buzzing? Because that what I'm worried about lol

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. I prefer a lyre with more space between the strings simply because it's easier to sound better. Buzzing takes away the beauty of the sound, and constantly having to worry about buzzing makes playing less enjoyable, and could even be demotivating.

[@achillesboi]

Lyre reminds me so much of a Latvian traditional instrument 'kokle'. The sound is almost the same. I love it..

[@SamanthaonMars]

I just watched a clip of a musician playing the kokle. You're absolutely right! They sound very similar.

[@willowsig9255]

Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo qui m’a aidé à faire mon choix!

[@SamanthaonMars]

You're welcome! =)

[@lurklingX]

moi aussi!

[@claraarts-ifugaoartist1976]

Well this helps alot! I was planning to buy myself one...but I hesitate on investing on to a lyre i wont like... My interest in this instrument started when I have insomnia and I just let lyre harp sounds from youtube play as my lullaby... thank you for this review!

[@SamanthaonMars]

You're so welcome! Lyre harp sounds can be relaxing. I hope you'll find one suited for you. =)

[@MagdalenaTheremin]

I also like the moste the sound which produce tve hollow design lyre but on the other hand deer design lyre looks sweetest 😍. Greetings from Göteborg!

[@SamanthaonMars]

Greetings! Whoever designed the deer lyre knew how to make the instrument attractive. The antlers are so cute! I haven't travelled in a long time now because of the pandemic. So enjoy your trip!

[@Interestinggirl-in2ne]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS VIDEO IS SOOOO HELPFUL!!!

[@miriammacdermot5601]

Thank you. very helpful.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@dubecheck]

Well done.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you! 😊

[@huongthu1807]

I wish to watch your video earlier. Now I'm trying to figure out how much different between a diatonic lyre and a chromatic lyre.. Thank you very much!

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. Thank you for watching my video! Umm... some differences I can think of: 1. Chromatic lyres have both white & black keys of a piano. Diatonic lyre has only the white keys. Some songs may not be possible on a diatonic lyre because of the missing keys. 2. Chromatic lyres usually have more strings than diatonic lyres. 3. Chromatic lyres are usually more expensive. Sharon from 'Learning the Lyre Harp' explained how chromatic and diatonic lyres are different. Check out her video too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpbJepJ7nsiebZY .

[@angr3819]

Thank you

[@paperheartsfromnoelle]

okay so i’ve never heard of the lyre harp until this video showed up on my recommended. but my urge to learn this instrument due to its (visually) transportability is strong, and i am willing to spend however much if it means i can become a niche(?) musician. i may update as i go along

[@SamanthaonMars]

That's wonderful to hear! The lyre harp is indeed a unique and appealing instrument. It's fantastic that you're feeling inspired to become a niche musician. I'd love to hear updates on your journey. Best of luck, and enjoy the musical adventure!

[@michaelkenney2857]

I just bought a lyre and I am troubled by the dearth of material available for the instrument. I'm a beginner and would like to have some guides to get me started. Can you make any suggestions on this matter? It would be appreciated.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. Sharon Brownell has a lot of tips and techniques on how to play. I believe she has a beginner series on her channel kzbin.info . If you're on Facebook, you can join her group too. It's called "Learning the Lyre Harp". I've learned a lot from the people in that group.

[@fabiobianchini8922]

Hi Samantha, I propably prefer the solid mogan one, but it hasn't the central hole, is this a gap vs the two other with hole? Excuse my bad English

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi Fabio. They're just two ways of projecting sounds. The hollow lyres require a sound hole, and the solid one uses the dish. If there's a hole in the dish, the sound would probably be less loud.

[@itsseaberri]

I've been debating getting a lyre for a bit now and I was looking at the 16-string Donner one which is fairly similar to the hollow "round" one in this video. do you think this is a good pick for a beginner, or would you recommend another brand/shape?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. The Donner will sound like the hollow one in this video because they have the same shape and size. Donner is another popular brand for lyres. I have their 7-string lyre and I love it! The lyre may be sold by multiple sellers so I'd suggest finding a reputable seller by checking their reviews and comparing prices. Hope the information helps!

[@itsseaberri]

@@SamanthaonMars it does, thank you!

[@mithinie]

Thank you 😊

[@xSilencex_]

Yo me fui por el solido Y no me arrepiento Estoy muy feliz Bueno que desde que soy muy pequeño Anhele este instrumento Y finalmente lo tengo. Estoy muy feliz.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Happy playing!

[@mae1813]

Thanks

[@sontivee8946]

I like the round design It’s more louder & solid than the other two. What do you think about the Donner and Lotkey brand? Thank you for sharing

[@SamanthaonMars]

Donner is a popular brand. I have a Donner 7-string and it seems well constructed like my Aklots. I don't own any Lotkey so I can't comment on them.

[@Rhinzi]

Eee Im not sure what to get! Ive been diving into this rabbit hole since 2022 and finally have the opportunity to get one, while I agree the solid body is sweeter and the strings are easy to pluck because of the spaces, I think the deer one sounds more mature(?) clear, and pronounced since it has the hollow body while the strings are a bit more close together AAA so many options, I honestly cant decide between them! Im only a beginner so I do want something easy I can adjust to while also getting a nice rich sound. I love how sweet solid body is but the higher notes sound like theres a lot of "noise" since theres less resonance although hollow deer is still a lot more pronounced Do you have any thoughts on this? I gladly appreciate any sort of feedback !!

[@avahlab2641]

Hello there sam! I’m a beginner. I’m thinking of getting the 24 strings. Is it okay? or should I start on 19strings first? Thank youuu ☺️

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hello! Do you play other instruments? The range of 16 or 19 is splendid for complete beginners. You get 2 octaves and more which is sufficient for many songs. I'd suggest 21 or 24 only when you know some music and have ideas on how to utilize all the extra strings.

[@lunamooncat7926]

Okay, so I just bought a lyre harp and I'm confused. I play the melodica, so I'm familiar with the setup of a regular piano keyboard. However, my lyre has the strings backwards. I'm used to having the low notes closer to my body and the high notes further away, for the lyre it's the other way around. Is this standard? I'm contemplating returning my lyre in favour of one with a different setup.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. Both arrangements are common for the modern lyre. The set up with high notes closer to the body resembles the harp so it's preferred by harpists and those wanting to transition to the harp. It's a matter of personal preference.

[@lunamooncat7926]

@@SamanthaonMars I see. It's just that I see almost exclusively people who play lyres like yours. Makes me think there's something wrong with mine😅

[@LyreQueen]

Thanks Samantha! Would you consider getting 21 or 24 string lyre harps?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Not at the moment. I have my hands full 🤣

[@LyreQueen]

@@SamanthaonMars Really? Sure you aren't addicted to harp collecting yet? XD

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@LyreQueen 🤣🤣🤣

[@davidcalmett5623]

I'd like to know, how do you hold a lyre to play it on your lap?

[@s.k.6899]

I have the solid body one and it doesn't hold the tuning at all. I play a few seconds and then it's out of tuning. I read this would not happen after two weeks or so, but it has been months. Any advice?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Oh dear. It must be frustrating to have the lyre out of tune for so long. Usually when it happens it's because of a loose tuning peg. If that's the case with your lyre, you can follow this video by Sharon Brownell where she explained how to fix it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amHNgqaCZZWnnck . Hope it helps!

[@user-ox8de8od4i]

Hi Samantha! Can I ask which one is more comfy between lyre with wide spacing string or lyre short spacing string?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi! The lyre with wide spacing is more comfy to play. I prefer this one to the closely-spaced one. And yes, you can play with short nails. That's what I do! =D I just use the fleshy part of my fingertips to play.

[@user-ox8de8od4i]

@@SamanthaonMars Thank you for your answer! I finally got mine yesterday. It's fun to play, bit sometimes I feel dizzy seeing those strings when I placed the lyre on my thigh >

[@21stCenturyFoxProds]

Great Video! I'm asking myself wether it's better to buy a 16 or a 24 string lyre for my first playing experiences? Do you prefer one? THX!

[@SamanthaonMars]

I'd recommend 16 or 19 strings if you have no background in music. 21 or more allows better playing with both hands. Usually one hand plays the melody and the other the bass notes. They're best suited to those who know how to utilize the full range to make music.

[@lurklingX]

​@@SamanthaonMars ok, that is a fantastic thing to keep in mind. i'm sure i would have had that question myself. and the double hands - didn't know HOW harpists approach playing and that clears up a lot, also that you can do a two hand playing style on these little ones.

[@gracielabeltran-hall3786]

For the deer design, you could try using some finger picks if you wanna keep your nails short

[@SamanthaonMars]

Good advice

[@ReinQuest]

I have that bowl design. I’m confused that yours has the string letters and mine doesn’t. Same Amazon listing. But more importantly I just can’t get the low notes to tune. They have a weird vibration, especially the low G and they’re out of tune by the time I finish the last string.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Someone told me just yesterday their bowl design had no letters too! Maybe the manufacturer has changed the design? If you keep the lyre, an idea is to put sticker labels next to the strings to mark them. People who plays the harp would color the strings red & green like with harps. Is the weird vibration like in my video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZvFZqiAhd2MiJo ? The A string buzzes compared to the normal B and C strings. I'd loosen and retune the problem string until the vibration is gone. As to getting out of tune, how long have you had the lyre? Usually I give new strings about a week's time to settle. Be sure to tune everyday so they'll get used to the new tension. Hope the info helps.

[@ReinQuest]

@@SamanthaonMars yea it’s a lot like that buzzing. I’ll try your suggestion. It’s been just a couple days so far. I know I had expected some stretching for new strings. I just thought it would hold longer than the time it takes to tune all 16. Thanks.

[@davidbeaverscovers9869]

I am torn between a bowl and a hollow lyre. I like the simple and robust construction, and the crystal sound of the bowl, but the hollow might be better to amplify due to the bridge and hollow body, and I can get one with 19 strings. Did you notice a difference of volume when playing acoustically and with an amplifier? which one sounded louder? Anyway Thank you for that video ^^.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. The hollow has a bit more resonance when played acoustically. The loudness is similar to the bowl. If there's a difference, it's negligible because it can be controlled by how hard you pick and what you pick the string with, similar to what you do with the guitar. (By the way, you make beautiful music! I like that you add little stories to your covers.) The lyre's pickup isn't the best, and my amplifier is crappy, so I can't tell which lyre is better when plugged in.

[@davidbeaverscovers9869]

@@SamanthaonMars thank you for your answer, and thank you for checking my youtube channel 😁. I need to upload more 😅. At the end I went for a Cega hollow 19 strings lyre 😏

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@davidbeaverscovers9869 Cega is a good brand. I don't own one but I've seen others had good experience with it.

[@arinanechifor6157]

Which sound do you think is closer to a harp? The solid body's lyre sound or the hollow round?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Neither, lol. These lyres use steel strings. Harps use nylon or gut strings. Steel strings are louder, brighter, and harsher. They lack the mellow and warm quality of harp strings.

[@lurklingX]

@@SamanthaonMars aha! i just learned about that difference on guitar actually. makes sense!

[@zahbsenaa2162]

Everyone say for there frist would be the round or the solid .... Me on the other had : i will get the deer one. Thanks for the video it helps a lot if it wasn't for it i think i wouldn't know which to buy for frist

[@SamanthaonMars]

Glad it helped!

[@glasharry]

Hello Samantha! I just bought the Aklot 16 string solid body, and the low G-string is inaccesible to play from the back. That is well good reason to return it yes? I see that you Aklot solid does not have that problem

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hello! You're right. Mine's accessible, but only barely, haha. I wish there was a bit more space. If having the low strings accessible from the back is important to your playing style, I say return it.

[@byzantineladybug9471]

Hello! In the comments section of one of your more recent videos, someone asked the questions that I had planned on asking and you linked them to this video. Thank you for this comprehensive review! I am very seriously considering getting a lyre harp and will use this information (and links!) to follow through with this. Like many in the comments section, I am enamored with this little instrument. My younger sister got a kalimba and is enjoying learning how to play it but I am gravitating towards a lyre. Learning how to play this will help me on so many levels-a soothing outlet, a brain exercise, a nice hobby 🥰👍 Thank you for your content! I will definitely take advantage of your patreon in order to get the sheet music. 🎶 I am leaning towards the first lyre-do you think that is a wise choice? Thanks again 🎶❤

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi! Thank you for the appreciation! I'm happy to be able to provide the information you were looking for. It's amazing that your sister has a kalimba and you're planning on getting a lyre. The great thing is you can use kalimba notes for the lyre, and vice versa. I imagine it will be lots of fun for duets too! Two years later, the bowl lyre is still my favorite! However, it seems the more recent models have removed the names of the notes from their design. You may have to consider that if having the names of the notes is important to you. Once again, thank you for your comment! I hope you find the right one for you! 🥰

[@byzantineladybug9471]

@@SamanthaonMars THANK YOU for your reply and encouragement. I actually DO need the notes engraved on the lyre so I’m disappointed to hear that they stopped engraving the bowl lyre. I’m considering reaching out to them to see if they can do a custom order for me or I might have to use a black pen (which I know will look ridiculous but, as a new learner who I suspect is also a slow learner) as an alternative. I will keep you posted 🥰👍

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@byzantineladybug9471 I hope they will do a custom for you. In case they don't, you can stick labels next to the strings, like this person here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYfOp6KcbNqonNE .

[@martinshannon7632]

Thanks from uk

[@SamanthaonMars]

Welcome! So nice of you!

[@ChantelStays]

This is amazing thank you. Do you think a u bottom or a more typical harp would be best ?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi Chantel. Do you mean a harp-shaped lyre or a regular harp? Regular harps are bigger, pricier, and require different techniques to play. If you wish to transition to the regular harp later, a lyre with the higher strings closer to you may be a better choice (regardless of shape). For example, the lyre in this video is harp-shaped but the strings are strung completely opposite to a regular harp ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKiqpYGbbpakZqc ). This isn't very good if you want to move on to the regular harp. Whereas in this video the higher strings are closer to the person ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn7SnKisiZqnjrs ) . Despite not being harp-shaped, it's better to migrate to the regular harp later. Personally, I've never played a harp-shaped lyre so I can't compare it with the U-bottomed lyres. (I tried a 15-stringed mini harp but I'd say it's a mini harp and not a lyre. Here's a demo: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqnKiq2aj8l7rdk).

[@ChantelStays]

@@SamanthaonMars it was a spelling mistake. 🤣 I meant U shape or box shape....and I am moving down from harp to lyre 🌞💕 thank you for connecting back

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@ChantelStays Oh, my bad! Haha! Not sure I understand what "box shape" is... can you explain?

[@coquettemavka]

Hello, Samantha! I finally have the opportunity to buy myself a lyre harp. What do you think of Sola's lyres?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hello! I have not heard of Sola's lyres. I'm sorry I can't help you with that. :(

[@fabiofalcetta5633]

thanks for this video where you listed the various differences between the three lyres. I wanted to ask you two questions about these models. Are there differences between the two models with the sound box and the one without? I saw that the three models are sold with a soft bag, is it possible to find a rigid bag for sale to be able to transport them more safely?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi Fabio! The sounds are different. Those with a sound box have more resonance and depth, but only a little bit more. That's not to say the solid lyre is crappy, lol. It just has a different quality that appeals to different people. Also, the lyres with a sound box have a bridge. So when playing upright it's exactly what I showed under difference #5. For your second question, Aklot lyres come with soft bags. If you want a better bag, maybe take a look at other brands, such as Donner. I haven't seen rigid bags sold separately just for the lyre. Some people use laptop bags for their lyres.

[@fabiofalcetta5633]

I'm very interested in the lyre without a soundbox because listening to the sound again I really like it. it seems that the is fuller sound.

[@fabiofalcetta5633]

I'm very interested in the lyre without a soundbox because listening to the sound again I really like it. it seems that the is fuller sound.

[@parthenocissus]

Do you have a particular tuning app you'd recommend? the one my lyre recommended doesn't seem to have a lyre or harp option on it, so i'm afraid mine might be seriously out of tune

[@SamanthaonMars]

I use free mobile tuning apps. Chroma, insTuner, and PanoTuner are some which I've used.

[@liamyoudontgettoknow8269]

do you use nylon or metal strings? i really like the sound whatever strings you’re using give, but idk which they are, if they’re even one of those two.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. All my lyres come with metal strings. Nylon would sound something like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHWXiXaJmtmGiJY . I think each is beautiful in their own ways.

[@liamyoudontgettoknow8269]

@@SamanthaonMars thank you!! i’m looking forward to getting a lyre and watching more of your videos :)

[@romaniec.5256]

Great video! Are there any printed resources to learn the lyre? And sheet music? What resources to learn the lyre harp are best? I am thinking about buying a lyre, I still have no idea how many strings to pick - but this decision will be probably made after learning how I can really learn to play the lyre and what's the availability of learning resources. I'm already interested in how some classical guitar techniques would work.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you! I primarily play by ear and don't have sheet music. However, I've created printable ABC notes for all my songs on my Patreon page. I currently have over 270 songs. The notes are similar to what you see in my videos, and sometimes I include the lyrics for easier reference. On my website, I've curated a collection of resources specifically for learning the modern lyre harp. You can find the link in the next comment (just in case KZbin decides to remove the entire comment due to external links). I've tried classical guitar but have since transitioned to electric guitar. I believe the fingering techniques can definitely be beneficial when applied to playing the lyre.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Resources for learning the modern lyre: learnlyreharp.com/online-resources-for-learning-the-lyre-harp/ And for learning historic lyres: learnlyreharp.com/learn-historic-or-ancient-lyre-online-resources/

[@romaniec.5256]

@@SamanthaonMars Great, thank you very much! For now I decided to first buy some ethnic woodwind instruments form Ukraine (sopilka and telenka) but lyre still is in my head. I already have ideas how the lyre would work with telenka.

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@romaniec.5256 It's fantastic that you already have ideas on how to incorporate the lyre with other instruments. You're truly talented!

[@annalynbolandres7945]

For me I would like to have the hollow one (the first one). Though it has the simple look but the sound it produces is more sweet

[@SamanthaonMars]

Many people chose the hollow one too. It seems to be very popular.

[@LoneTreePeak]

Okay I'm here again and ready to pick one up. After a thorough listening experience and re-watch, I think I'm going with the solid body. I also think it sounds sweeter. The deer one to me sounds very loud and pronounced, but I like the sound of the bowl the most. I plan on sampling these sounds and uploading them into my music rig so I can have the option to manipulate the sounds. The clarity is not a big deal to me, because that's one aspect I can modify. I plan on creating some music with these in time as well as just playing for fun and creating new melodies to record. This should work well. Before I make the purchase from your link here, any final thoughts on my choice considering I'm planning on doing both things, like recording and playing? Thank you for this great review! This is what I needed! 👍 👍 🤔 💡 😎 🎶 🎵

[@SamanthaonMars]

Glad to be of help! You asked if I have final thoughts. Well, a few came to mind... Let me start rambling, haha. (1) People have told me that the new version of the bowl lyre doesn't have notes on them anymore. If you rely on the notes, you may need to label the strings yourself. (2) Besides Aklot, other brands with good sales numbers and reviews can be good options too. Make sure it comes with a tuning wrench and spare strings. (3) If you have your own recording equipment, use them. The mic that comes with these lyres is just so-so. (4) Don't record on the first week because the strings often get out of tune. They need time to adjust to the new tension, and how much time really depends. For me, it took a few days, while people in the US or Canada have reported at least a week, or even two weeks. I guess it's related to the weather affecting the wood. Tune the lyre every day and you should see improvements. (5) Which brings me to tuning. If you have tuned any string instrument before, forget about it. The lyre can be quite different from say tuning a guitar. It has to be tuned slowly, and in very very small movements.

[@LoneTreePeak]

@Samantha on Mars Okay thank you very much for that added information. All great points to consider. Before I tune it, I'll come back to your tuning video to make sure I'm doing it properly. I'll likely be making my purchase tomorrow, so thanks again for teaching me more than enough of what I need to know, hear and see to inspire me to get this. I've been waiting a while, and I think now's the time before summer comes over here. ⛰️🌲🎶🌄 ⛰️ I appreciate it!

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@LoneTreePeak You're very welcome! :)

[@LoneTreePeak]

Hey I'm back on a revisit and to also inform you that today I received my Lyre Harp! Thank you very much for the Amazon link and for all of the displays of this fine instrument. To be honest, I really didn't know about this instrument and I found this because I originally wanted a regular Harp, but after finding out how expensive they are, I found this one and your channel. After a while of watching your videos, I was able to see what it's capable of with all of the songs you're able to play with it. The calming and relaxing tone grew on me, and your teaching and reviews really helped me get inspired. I'm happy to express my gratitude and excitement, and you've inspired me more than you know! Thank you for altering my musical path and this is going to be a fun instrument for sure! Much appreciated and I will be able to bring it on my upcoming trip in a few days! 👍 👍 🤝 🤝 🎶 🎵 🙂🙌

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@LoneTreePeak ​ Wow, I'm so happy that your lyre arrived in time for your trip! I'm also honored to have played a small part in your musical path. Thank you for taking the time to share your gratitude with me! It's quite heartwarming to read messages like yours. It makes my work more worthwhile. Thank you!

[@snaketat82]

Anyone know what song that is at 8:22? It has haunted me for almost 30 years from piano lessons. Couldn't remember how to play anything else from those days but that melody!

[@SamanthaonMars]

That's "Aura Lee" or "Love Me Tender" by Elvis.

[@franklinduda]

Amei tudo

[@instrumentallearningprogress]

Beautiful lyres..❤

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you! You're so talented, playing so many instruments.

[@instrumentallearningprogress]

@@SamanthaonMars You're welcome, Samantha. Thanks also for the appreciation. 😊 May God in heaven be glorified.

[@nektariako6182]

Does the solid body - bowl shaped lyre have the letter names (A, G, D, etc.) Written? In other reviews they say that they are not written and in the review of amazon it is not shown clearly.

[@SamanthaonMars]

They used to, but not anymore for newer makes. It's a pity they decided to remove the letter notes.

[@nektariako6182]

Oh, that's too bad. Although I like the solid body lyre, the fact that the letters are missing won't help me as a beginner. Thank you, though!

[@astro2513]

Hey, Samantha. It would be great to see you play the Game of Thrones theme tune. Thanks for the great content. 👍

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi astro! Game of Thrones is one show I wish I had watched. I'm unfamiliar with the theme but I found a tutorial that may help you. It's written for the piano but the same notes can be played on the lyre. The exception is Db (D flat) which you can replace with C. Hope that helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/moCVl36GjLJ7iKc

[@astro2513]

@@SamanthaonMars thank you, I appreciate that. I recommend the books not the show though haha

[@mariejoe7078]

Hello!i play piano keyboard, I'm thinking of buying a harp and start playing.can you give me advices which harp should i get?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hello. Do you mean a "lyre harp" or a "harp"? The former is what I play & what I know. If you want the "lyre harp", it would depend on the type of music you want to play. 16 or 19 strings is fit for a wide range of music. If you have a music background, you can even go for 21 or 24 strings. There are also 7, 10, 12 strings lyres. If there's a lyre harp you like, find unboxing or review videos to see how it sounds. There are many brands and sellers so I suggest to look around and compare prices. Find a seller with good reviews.

[@mariejoe7078]

@@SamanthaonMars tysm for the advice

[@letshuman8985]

Hey Samantha! Im thinking of getting a lyre, however, I dont know if I should go for a lyre with 16 strings or one with more strings. How do I know which one to get? Im worried about being limited on the 16 string lyre.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hello! During the two years I've been playing the lyre (I only have 16-string lyres), there were a few times that I wished I had 19 strings. The three extra strings can make a difference, but most of the time I can make it work on 16 strings. 16 and 19 are both great for beginners. Then there are lyres with 21 strings or more. More strings mean there are more you can do. They're also great for playing with both hands. I think they suit those who play another instrument and know how to utilize the wider range. As long as there are at least 16 strings, you'll be able to play a variety of music.

[@letshuman8985]

@@SamanthaonMars Wow, thank you so much! I play other instruments, so I always appreciate the wider variety in range.

[@AlexBomi13]

Damn. So hard 😵‍💫. I really like Deer design in everything, sound and shape, but principally because it has the closest shape to an "old classic lyre" between these three, but the fact that could be difficult to play for a beginner due to the strings that are too close each other, it's something to think about, maybe the solid bowl could be the best choice to start, it has big space between strings and don't need to much care compares with a hollow body. I mean for the resonance box and stuff. So maybe the way that the solid bowl is "so simple" could be perfect to start.

[@SamanthaonMars]

I understand how you feel, lol. The choice is difficult indeed. After all this time the solid bowl is still my favorite, and the other two are very nice too. The deer one is unfortunately showing some wear and tear. It seems to be the least durable of the three. I say go with the design that will motivate you the most.

[@raddish.pickled3826]

Hello can u play Knew day (grimgar op) plz i want to learn it

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hello! I've never heard of the anime or the song 😅. I have no plans on doing the soundtrack now. Sorry!

[@arc2990]

What do you think about the Cega Brand? do you recommend those harps? 🌸

[@SamanthaonMars]

Sorry, I have no experience with Cega lyre harps. 🙇

[@nova-kiin]

If I may answer, I have a Cega, hollow-body, 19-strings lyre, and I think it’s great. The sound is clear and bright, the design is beautiful, it’s comfortable to hold, the body is sturdy and feels nice to the touch, it’s pretty good quality, and the resonance is amazing. So I think it’s also a good brand to have.

[@sabrinast-pierre3619]

I have the aklot, and since it has no saddle (the peice the strings rest on) some strings reste on the wood directly and buzz. I've stuck peices of paper under those. The little metal rings are embedded at an angle in the wood by now, I'd recommend a lyre with a saddle to avoid this issue.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Thank you for sharing your experience and suggestions!

[@alenadimopoulos9055]

I’m torn. The deer design sounds the best all around, but as a beginner it seems too difficult from a technical stance. The hollow has the best technicalities, before I heard the sounds I was leaning more towards that one but once I heard the sounds something about it, I didn’t like. It reminds me of my little brothers fake loog guitar. And the solid body is a good in the middle, the sound is great only thing I wouldn’t like having to hold it without touching the strings. Anyone have any tips on choosing?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Your points are valid. It depends on your personal preferences and goals. If you prioritize technical ease and comfort, the hollow or solid body options may be more suitable. I find the hollow sounds kind of "plastic-ky" in the higher range, but only slightly compared to the others.

[@reigen1998]

hi samantha,!!!!! I'm sure I'm not the first person to ask you about which of these tools is better. I can't decide on the sound yet, don't you think that Hollow round sounds more like a guitar than the sound of a lyre and a harp? I am also very concerned about the volume of the sound, please tell me again, are there strong differences in volume between solid body and hollow round? I understand that the way you touch the instrument can amplify the sound, but I'm not talking about that.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi! You're right about the similarity to a guitar. The 3 lyres are all equipped with steel strings, the same strings used in acoustic guitars. The hollow lyres have a little more resonance, maybe that's why you find them similar to the hollow acoustic guitar. In terms of volume, there really isn't a big difference among the 3. I wouldn't worry about the volume when choosing between them.

[@reigen1998]

@@SamanthaonMars thank you very much for your answer. but I have more questions for you if you don't mind) how do you feel about sega lyre? I think you watched the review on them and I'm interested in your opinion. and.. I can't figure out if the sound of the saga is like an aklot with a hollow round or solid body.. . as if it's something in between. I'm also interested in which microphone you record the video on...

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@reigen1998 No problem! Ask away. 😃 I haven't heard of Sega or Saga. Or do you mean Cega? Cega is also popular within the lyre community. Cega lyres have the strings arranged in the opposite direction to Aklot lyres. On a Cega, the higher notes are on the left (i.e. closer to the lyrist when playing upright). This resembles the harp so it's preferred by harpists or people wanting to transition to the harp. Aklot has the lower notes to the left, and is preferred by those with a piano or guitar background. And the microphone I use? My good old iPhone, haha! Recently, I changed to the Blue Yeti X and I've been loving it: amzn.to/3IigbCN .

[@reigen1998]

@@SamanthaonMars I don't understand anything about sheet music, but in the future I want to buy myself a lyre. probably if I buy a cega** lyre, it will be much more difficult for me to learn from your lessons.. ( ( Your lessons are wonderful!) so maybe I should still think about aklot..

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@reigen1998 You can still use a Cega. The video will be flipped but the notes are still the same.

[@Nick-Nasty]

I do think i like the solid body's sound the best. Is it really much quieter?

[@SamanthaonMars]

The loudness is a result mostly of how hard the strings are played. I filmed the sound test in the video under the same conditions.

[@TheMtnmamma]

What is the difference in the way the bean shape is , is one for left handed players and one for right ?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi Michele! The shape is the result of the arrangement of the strings. You'll find lyres with the higher strings at different sides. It's more a personal preference than left or right handedness. Harpists, or people who want to transition to the harp, prefers the higher strings to the left (i.e. closer to the person), because that's how harps are. People who play the piano or guitar (that's me, I play the guitar 😃) prefers the higher strings to the right side, because they're more familiar with this arrangement.

[@__-sp1ly]

On the sound test were you playing beauty and the beast?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Yep, you're correct!

[@MrTom-Songwriter-Composer]

Did Aklot send these to you as a courtesy directly? Or did they sent them to you from Amazon ?

[@SamanthaonMars]

Hi. Two of them were sent to me directly. One I bought with my own money from Amazon.

[@MrTom-Songwriter-Composer]

@@SamanthaonMars Thank You for your reply and time. Stay safe out there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpTMXqR6hselqpI

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@MrTom-Songwriter-Composer I watched several videos before buying a lyre harp and yours was one of them! Nice playing. Thank you for making these videos and sharing good information.

[@snowfalllll]

i know you might not respond but. would you say that a 24 string lyre wld be hard for a beginner?

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@snowfalllll If you know another instrument, such as the piano, and know how to utilize the fuller range of a 24-string lyre with both hands, then it could be a good choice. However this is only a general advice ignoring the psychological aspects of playing an instrument. Because if you find a particular lyre that motivates you to practise and play, I say go for it!

[@iceywater8046]

Hey Samantha i have a question is it ok if i can put stickers on the back of the lyre

[@SamanthaonMars]

Should be fine as long as they don't cover anything important. The lyre's back has small holes for changing strings, so you don't want to cover them up. Also, it's better to use flat stickers if you play the lyre on a table.

[@iceywater8046]

Oooohhh ok thanks Samantha I'm planning to buy one wish me luck 😊

[@SamanthaonMars]

@@iceywater8046 Good luck! :)

[@daysel8685]

i like the sound of the Bowl designer best.

[@SamanthaonMars]

Me too!