An Overview of Affordable Harp-like Instruments

This is called a Spring Lyre. It has 7 metal strings. It is affordable, if you can still find them online, under $100 I think. Though aesthetically pleasing in its shape, it has almost no volume as it has no sound box, and being very small (you can scale its size by the size of the tuning key which fits in your hand). The wood is raw and unfinished. I love the shape but was extremely disappointed in its brittle and difficult to tune tone as well as its lack of volume.

8-string Mid-East Lyre. This one runs for about $200-240 and may be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but it's tuning is a bit off. It has 8 metal strings and fine tuning balls under the strings below the bridge (which I couldn't master) The soundbox shell is very thin and mine cracked in almost no time. I don't recommend it. I believe it is made in Pakistan.

This is a Mini Kinnor Harp. It is also made in Pakistan and has 10 nylon strings. It is small and can be cradled across your chest like a baby. It goes for about $89 and you can get a cute little quilted gigbag for it. Because of its small size and nylon strings, it has a bit of a muted sound to it, but is rather nice. There is also a much larger, more expensive model which I don't recommend. The larger one is rather unwieldy and I found the strings difficult to keep in tune. It's okay if you want a quiet bedside instrument for your own meditative sense of peace and contemplation.

This is the Lil Lyre made by Musicmakers, a kit company. You can buy one fully assembled for $69 or you can buy a kit and make it yourself for less. It has 10 metal strings and has surprisingly decent loud tone in a tiny soundbox which is rather deceptive. It is a bargain at the price, and has a pleasing shape and appearance. It also has the bonus of having a stand-up base for display when not cradling it in your arms for playing. You can also easily play it across your lap like a zither. If you order from MusicMakers i.e. Harpkit.com, they let you choose from a number of different decorative rosettes over the soundhole. I highly recommend it. The only drawback is that they don't offer a gigbag, though I doubt many would be travelling to shows with this, even though it is very portable.

This 10 metal-stringed Lyre Harp goes for about $150. It has a very small soundbox and very little volume. You can also get a little gig bag for it. I don't recommend it because of the limited volume.

Some of the above models come in various woods and finishes. Most of mine were darker (Rosewood) finishes. They are generally tuned to a pentatonic scale (as the black keys on a piano). You have some leeway for retuning them. I choose a different scale myself.

There are a couple version of this Melody Harp, which is a 15-string hognosed psaltery or lap harp. You can get a nice little gig bag for it and they usually come with a few sheets of follow the dot music that fit under the strings and guide the unmusical along the melody visually. They have metal strings and are around $50 or less. Not bad tone for such a small instrument tuned generally chromatically (i.e. the white keys of the piano).

Musicmakers makes this gorgeous hognosed psaltery, considerably larger and better sounding than the little lap harp above because the soundbox is bigger and the strings are longer. It operates in the same manner (putting music sheets under the strings), or you can simply pluck or strum it to your heart's delight. It is beautifully finished and sounds incredible for the price, about $150. A BARGAIN! You can also purchase a gigbag for it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The 8 nylon-stringed Lily harp is a little Rosewood beauty made in Pakistan and going for around $150. As it is tiny and the strings are so short, the top several are rather blunt and brittle sounding. Not really an adequate instrument for playing, you might still want to pluck at it when laid up in bed.

This is the Baby Harp, pretty much my standby. Made in Pakistain, again, it is a 12 nylon-stringed version of the one above, but with better tone. I enjoy its size and handling. It is also cradled like a baby, fits easily also in your lap. Not enormous volume, but very nice for intimate playing. I am very happy with it and have used it in numerous recordings. I see listings for this on Amazon at $119, cheaper than the smaller one above. Go figure!

So far, that pretty much sums it up. I have a larger, more expensive harp (about $650) from another company, better made, with 21 nylon strings, and beautiful sound, but it is just large enough to make it unwieldy, and thus I find myself reluctant to drag it out, pick it up, and play it. I find the most enjoyable instruments are one's at arm's length that you can grab at any time and pluck a note or two, doodle or noodle on musically. I also own a lovely pineapple-shaped ukulele which fits this category, but is not a harp or lyre, so more on that some other time.