Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The second of 2 lessons, on how chords on the receated ancient lyre can be strummed to accompany more or less any song, exactly like an acoustic guitar! The technique, known as 'string blocking' dates back to antiquity - by blocking specific strings with fingers of the left hand & strumming only the desired open strings with a plectrum in the right hand, basic harmonies can be spontaneously created. Learning the 'blocking shape' of the left hand, is almost exactly analagous to learning the chord shape of the left hand whilst playing the guitar.
The lyre featured, is my 11-string "Lyre of Thamyris", made in modern Greece, by Luthieros:
luthieros.com/product/the-thamyris-lyre-the-mortal-to-challenge-the-muses-ancient-greek-lyre-chelys-9-strings-top-quality-handcrafted-musical-instrument
The string blocking left hand shapes described in this basic tutorial can be applied to any type of commercially available 10-string lyre tuned to the equivalent intervals as CDEFGABCDE (ie a regular major scale),
Unlike the more commercially available modern lyres, in keeping with historical accuracy, Luthieros lyres are strung with the bass strings closest to the player - historically, the reason for this, was so that the performer could better feel the resonance of the lyre whilst playing it. In order to block and strum the same chords on these type of lyres, requires entirely different hand shapes than for other modern lyres, strung in a harp configuration, with the bass strings furthest away & the treble strings closest to the player - as I describe in lesson 1 of this mini series.
For more advanced tuition for creating interesting solos, rather than strumming harmonies, please also check out my book of fully notated arrangements of a wide selction of some of my original compositions for recreated ancient lyres in the original ancient Greek modes, published by Luthieros:
luthieros.com/product/best-of-michael-levy-lyre-sheet-music
Many thanks for watching!
Subscribe:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Klezfiddle1
Official Artist Links:
Official Website:
ancientlyre.com
Digital Music Artist Profiles:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v
iTunes & Apple Music:
itunes.apple.com/us/artist/michael-levy/id4324920
Amazon:
amzn.to/2zmJph3
Bandcamp:
michaellevy.bandcamp.com
Facebook Page:
facebook.com/beautifullyre
Twitter:
twitter.com/AncientLyre
Instagram:
instagram.com/mlevy1400bce
Patreon:
patreon.com/Michael_Levy_Ancient_Lyre_Music
The second of 2 lessons, on how chords on the receated ancient lyre can be strummed to accompany more or less any song, exactly like an acoustic guitar! The technique, known as 'string blocking' dates back to antiquity - by blocking specific strings with fingers of the left hand & strumming only the desired open strings with a plectrum in the right hand, basic harmonies can be spontaneously created. Learning the 'blocking shape' of the left hand, is almost exactly analagous to learning the chord shape of the left hand whilst playing the guitar.
The lyre featured, is my 11-string "Lyre of Thamyris", made in modern Greece, by Luthieros:
luthieros.com/product/the-thamyris-lyre-the-mortal-to-challenge-the-muses-ancient-greek-lyre-chelys-9-strings-top-quality-handcrafted-musical-instrument
The string blocking left hand shapes described in this basic tutorial can be applied to any type of commercially available 10-string lyre tuned to the equivalent intervals as CDEFGABCDE (ie a regular major scale),
Unlike the more commercially available modern lyres, in keeping with historical accuracy, Luthieros lyres are strung with the bass strings closest to the player - historically, the reason for this, was so that the performer could better feel the resonance of the lyre whilst playing it. In order to block and strum the same chords on these type of lyres, requires entirely different hand shapes than for other modern lyres, strung in a harp configuration, with the bass strings furthest away & the treble strings closest to the player - as I describe in lesson 1 of this mini series.
For more advanced tuition for creating interesting solos, rather than strumming harmonies, please also check out my book of fully notated arrangements of a wide selction of some of my original compositions for recreated ancient lyres in the original ancient Greek modes, published by Luthieros:
luthieros.com/product/best-of-michael-levy-lyre-sheet-music
Many thanks for watching!
Subscribe:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Klezfiddle1
Official Artist Links:
Official Website:
ancientlyre.com
Digital Music Artist Profiles:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v
iTunes & Apple Music:
itunes.apple.com/us/artist/michael-levy/id4324920
Amazon:
amzn.to/2zmJph3
Bandcamp:
michaellevy.bandcamp.com
Facebook Page:
facebook.com/beautifullyre
Twitter:
twitter.com/AncientLyre
Instagram:
instagram.com/mlevy1400bce
Patreon:
patreon.com/Michael_Levy_Ancient_Lyre_Music
