INSTRUMENT REVIEW: DONNER DLH-003 16 STRING LYRE HARP
The Lyre Harp is one of the oldest instruments and is still used to play "parlor" or front room-type music. The reason is that it's an easy instrument to play (once you get the hang of tuning it) and, like similar instruments like the zither, is ideal for accompanying vocals. Also, and this is a technical observation that will make sense after playing a lyre harp, the two-octave range (16 notes) gives the player a wide range of sound as the music played can be based on modal or note structures instead of chords.
The Legendary Miles Davis changed the direction of jazz in the late 60s by exploring modal concepts, which significantly influenced 60s free-form rock. However, even a 16-string lyre can produce plenty of chords once the player is familiar with it.
Most of that background info isn't necessary except to assure the potential buyer that a lyre harp is an actual instrument in areas where people think serious instruments like guitars have to cost over a thousand dollars. Most people in other parts of the world consider a hundred-dollar harp a bit pricey.
The primary purpose of this type of Lyre is to make music. It provides joy and satisfaction that even the finest records can't match (it's a case of apples and oranges). It also connects the player to centuries of tradition from when audiences in villages listened to primitive harps up through the Celtic Age. Of course, that's a simplification but true.
Although it's played differently, the Lyre is similar to the harmonica, another inexpensive music maker that found popularity in Folk and Country and is a primary soloing instrument in the Blues. Both have in common that the primary type is tuned to whole notes, which in simple terms, means that it's impossible to play a wrong note. It's similar to playing only the white keys on a piano or tuning a guitar to a chord.
That's an excellent quality in a beginner instrument. My first instrument as a child was the violin, which I played for about six years. It was tough to play even whole notes correctly, and I saw more than one kid quit playing one because of the difficulty in learning to play even simple melodies. I mention the violin because it, along with wood peg banjos, gave me experience in tuning string instruments with a 1:1 tuning ratio. That is to say, there are no gears to make a turn of the tuning peg and not break the string if it's cranked over even a single rotation.
That's one aspect a prospective player should be aware of before tuning a lyre for the first time. Suppose one watches YouTube videos about this instrument. In that case, it's obvious, and the very slight turns are arguably beginner friendly because the notes move up and down in direct relation to the turn of the peg. However, having to crank it over a few times to get up to tune isn't necessarily easier. Beginning guitarists always break strings with geared pegs, and hundreds of years later, no one has seriously tried to make violins with geared pegs (though not necessarily a bad idea. Sitars with such pegs are available).
That said, this Donner Lyre does provide extra strings in case a beginner treats it like an Apple Computer and starts just cranking away without learning it first. After the first broken string, the tendency to over-tune generally stops. I've played string instruments all my life and still break a string now and then though I'm now experienced enough to blame it on a defect in manufacturing.
I should note that this review presents information in a different order than usual. It's written as a beginner might see it as opposed to a sales pitch. It's an instrument that will enable you to play tuneful music right from the start, as long as proper attention is paid to setup and tuning.
The most immediate application will be Celtic Harp Music. The Lyre may not have the same range or richness in tone, but one could say those are considerations that are more relevant to serious players who intend to play advanced pieces or live. Only a harmonica is easier for something that can be left around to be picked up and played for fun. All beginners will start with a standard whole note scale, and when plucked at random (or seen on YouTube), my point that there'll be no wrong notes will be more obvious.
As far as a point for the future, it is a tuned instrument. Just change the tuning if you want to explore scales with "flatted" or "sharp" notes. The tuning videos on YouTube are good, but I'd recommend using a decent electronic tuner to make fine adjustments. A beginner's ear won't detect if a note is a bit sharp or flat so it won't be a problem at first, but as the skill level increases, it can make you think you're playing out of tune. If that happens, congratulate yourself; your skill level is improving.
You can use a clip-on type on the bridge, but my workhorse has always been an ancient Korg CA-30 Chromatic Tuner, which can also tune by sound. It's over 20 years old, hasn't needed a battery change, and the casing doesn't turn to a white sticky paste like cheap modern clip-on seems to do. It can even make tuning sounds, but I never use that.
So, time for unboxing. In the case of the Donner, you get a good enough gig bag, extra steel strings, a tuning wrench (try not to lose it, it's convenient), and light gauge picks.
There are differences between a Celtic-style harp with steel or nylon strings. That's a tonal difference. One should watch videos and listen to both types of Celtic harp music. It's a good idea to do that because one might not produce the sound in your head (believe me, it's there, it's why everyone buys an instrument). Though a steel string has more highs, how to produce a clear tone is different than nylon. A beginner tends to pluck too hard, creating a scratchy or pinging tone. Instead, start off softly, and let your fingernails slide smoothly over the string, which in the higher notes are very tight and don't need much pressure to produce good time.
This type of harp is quieter, so plucking to try and fill a room with sound won't work at first. But, as you improve and your finger works more surely, the volume will increase. Again, check out the videos to see if getting one with an onboard amplifier is a preferred option.
Note: I refer to videos a lot because music is best taught by listening.
The Donner is a decently priced lyre harp, and the 16 strings have a nice range. More than adequate for a beginner or someone like me who likes adding different low-cost sounds to my instrument collection and enjoys Celtic Music. The tone is very good if played correctly. It's good enough to record with if you are familiar with mastering software like the free Audify program that can add reverb and other effects. Not every advanced player with a full-sized Celtic Harp may agree, but you can't worry about stuff like that as a novice.
The Donner is a good option if you want to make music at an affordable price. As a matter of disclosure, I got mine as a gift after casually mentioning my intent to get one, but after playing it, I can see that it'd have been a good buy, that is to say, an instrument I'd actually use.
Al Handa
2024
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