Author Archives: Dr. Crystal Grimes

Two Friendship Tunes

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Here are 2 original tunes played on BJL 7-string lyre. It’s designed to be played in G major pentatonic. But for these the tuning is as follows: D4, E4, F#4, G4, A4, B4, D5. These are friendship tunes, but you’ll have to take my word for it, as some lyrics aren’t included here.

The second one can be played as a round, if you’re interested in trying it! It sounds like this, and here are the lyrics… 

Friendship – Round

Brian Boru’s March on Lyres

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A traditional Irish tune played on 16-string solid body BJL lyre.

Next, played on 7-string pentatonic lyre. Well, it’s designed that way, but it’s not pentatonic for this tune. The tuning from low to high is D4, E4, F#4, G4, A4, B4, D5. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, just re-tuning a few strings.

Now on Lynda Lyre with nylon strings. It’s nice to compare the sound, especially since nylon strings on this instrument don’t ring as long as steel strings do.

And last, but certainly not least, back to steel strings with my simple double strung arrangement on 2 19-string BJL acoustic lyres!

O’Carolan’s Lyre – Various Lyres

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“O’Carolan’s Lyre” #Music #HarpForPeace #Mp3
My original composition, played on Lynda Lyre

Here are some new recordings of this tune I wrote in 2020. It sounds really lovely on BJL lyres with steel strings!

BJL 19-string acoustic lyre

BJL 16-string solid body lyre. Why am I sharing both 19- and 16-string recordings? Because modifications must be made to play this on a 16-string. Also, because one is acoustic, and the other is solid body. I love both!

BJL 7-string pentatonic lyre, but not pentatonic for this tune. Tuning: D4, E4, F#4, G4, A4, B4, D5

Yes, double strung too, played on 2 BJL 19-string acoustic lyres.

Here is a new Lynda Lyre recording, since, hopefully, I play better now than I did when I made the first one!

O’Carolan’s Lyre
And a version without lyre, just for good measure 

Aeolian Improv – 16-string Lyre and More

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16-string solid body BJL lyre. The volume of this instrument is impressive, especially without a sound box!

And on Lynda Lyre with nylon strings. This is a similar improv, but may or may not be the same… My intention was not to make it the same specifically, but if it is, that’s OK too!

And of course, double strung, played on 2 BJL 19-string acoustic lyres.

Light

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This is an original tune I’ve posted before. Written in 2010, it is entitled Light. I wrote it on ukulele, then played it on harp. Here I play 7-string pentatonic lyre. This little instrument is more versatile than you might think!

Same lyre with Pickaso Guitar Bow

19-string acoustic lyre with improv.

Double strung with improv, played on 2 19-string acoustic lyres.