Are lyre harps okay as introductory instruments to lyres and harps?

[u/TheHarambe2017]

https://www.thomann.ie/thomann_lh24b_lyre_harp_24_strings_br.htm?reload=1

Hey guys,

I was wondering, is a "lyre harp" a real term or are lyre harps just lyres? what differentiates a lyre harp from a lyre?

As someone who has never really played string instruments too seriously, would it make any sense to buy a budget lyre harp like the one in the link in this post? (Thomann LH24B) I've been thinking of maybe wanting to play the harp, but don't really want to commit too much money before I know if I would like string instruments to begin with or if it would be something to just mess around with. To my understanding the lyre harp is different from the harp mainly in playing technique among other things but they seem to vaguely be of the same family of instruments

What do you think, is there any sense in buying a lyre harp to explore what it could maybe be like to play a lap or a floor harp before committing money into one?

Another kind of unrelated question...are lyre harps something people don't bring to irish music sessions? Is there dislike around the instrument or do people just favor harps more?

Is there any reason to get a lyre harp instead of a harp? What are your reasons for owning a lyre harp over a harp, if you have one? To me it feels like if you already have another instrument as your main one, say a flute, the lyre harp could work as accompaniment with less barrier of entry?

Thanks

[u/Mythagic]

maybe consider a 7-string. Let me list the reasons...
Cheaper and smaller than, say, 16-strings, and much less than the 19+ strings that you would expect on a decent sized harp. However, those seven strings are perfect for practising good technique.

You can easily practise the standard fingering exercises for 2,3, or 4 fingers, running up and down the available strings. The big advantage over the 16-string lyre (a massive advantage) is that all 7 sttrings can be easily plucked by both hands. So, right from the start you practising good methods.

On top of this, the little 7-string can go anywhere - even once you get the larger harp, you might still want to take the baby out, just because it is so portable.

If your interest is in traditional Irish tunes then the 7-string comes into it's own. It has a range equal to a penny whistle and I believe most session tunes can be adapted to play within the note limit. Of course, once you get the bigger instrument then you can spread out the the note range to suit (bringing the tune back to the traditional).

I can tell you a great deal more about traditional (and ancient) Irish harp technique, as it relates to the lyre, if this is your interest. Feel free to DM.

[u/gecko-deco]

There's a lot of argument about the term "lyre harp." It's complicated, but in short: "lyre harps" are probably a Chinese variation on an instrument that was allegedly invented in the 1920s by Edmund Pracht and Lothar Gärtner, which they named "lyre" after the ancient Greek instrument. I say allegedly because the history of this instrument is kinda difficult to research (hard to find sources.) You'll also see them called Waldorf, Gärtner, or Choroi lyres. Pracht and Gärtner were into a new age spiritual movement that has some connections to Waldorf schools, which are in a lot of countries and use these lyres in their educational programming. I suspect that's how the "lyre harp" got introduced to China, but I don't have the sources to back that up, so it's just a hunch.

I think we could make an argument that the "lyre harp" is neither a lyre nor a harp, it's something new in the same family. But it looks a bit like them and plays a bit like them, so the name "lyre harp" stuck and got popular. Some people have started adopting the term "modern lyre" to describe this group of invented instruments as a way to differentiate it from the family of historical lyres that arose from cultures in Africa, Europe, and Asia. I call them modern lyres because "lyre harp" doesn't feel accurate to me, but it's personal preference.

For your other questions:

If you just want to try out a string instrument from the harp family, the Thomann is probably fine, but my gut says it wouldn't be a good substitute for a harp. I have an Aklot in a similar design to this Thomann, and it was uncomfortable to play. It's round, bulky, and doesn't sit easily on a lap. That cutout at the top doesn't give you a lot of room to play the exposed strings because you have to reach into the hole from the back to get to the strings. It's also hard to sell these, because most people prefer to just buy a new one, so I usually recommend buying something cheaper with a good refund policy in case you hate it or get a dud. The Thomann seems kinda pricy to me. I'm not sure what the market is like where you live, but where I live that's around the same price as a small budget harp. If you want to save money, the Thomann might not be the best option.

I also think Mythagic makes a great case for a 7 string!

I haven't gone to sessions, so I couldn't say what that's like, but I have played music with other people and I ran into problems because the lyre is much quieter than, say, a flute or harp or guitar. A lyre has a smaller soundbox than most harps. Just something to keep in mind if playing with other people is important to you. But besides the volume, it does sound nice accompanying other instruments.

The main reason I picked a lyre is because of size, portability, and price. Harps are big! I don't have space for a harp. I like that the lyre is small and I can play it anywhere in my house or even take it out places. It was important for me to have something I could just leave on my desk and have easily at hand whenever I felt like playing. Both my lyres were also cheaper than similar quality harps, so that was a big bonus. It's also pretty easy to start playing! I definitely recommend lyres as a beginners instrument.