v. 1.0
Lyre Tuner
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fine tune the tuner
* Tolerance sets the range of frequencies that will cause the note to turn green and, therefore, let you know that a string is tuned. If you need to tune your lyre perfectly, then change this to 0 Hz.
protect your strings
A common issue when tuning is breaking the higher string (i.e., the thinner one) while doing so. You need to know what is the upper limit for that higher string and never try to tune it above it. If you don’t know, then ask your luthier for advice. The default setting is G4, as this is the limit that most of the LUTHIEROS lyres have for the higher string.
# about the tuner
Setting up the tuner!
First, let's prepare the tuner specifically for your lyre. We have to set the number of our lyre's strings and then choose the note of the first string (the lowest one). In case you need more options for your first note (such as semitones or even quarter tones) or to change an octave, click on the "show more" just below.
Then, you can choose to tune the lyre using one of the seven Greek modes, one of the three Greek genres, or the simple pentatonic scale.
Don't forget to set the upper limit for your highest string (the thinner one) to protect it from breaking. You can do that by clicking on the "advanced tab" just below the tuner.
How to tune your lyre?
After you finish with the settings:
- Find a relatively quiet spot.
- Place the lyre on your lap.
- Bring your device close by.
And then, follow this procedure:
- Pluck the first string, and multiple frequencies show up on the tuner. This is because when you pluck a string, not only will a note be sound, but its harmonics too. You have to notice, though, the loudest of the frequencies shown on the tuner has the highest peak. This is where you have to focus.
- If the peak is on the left of the 1st vertical line (which resembles your 1st string), you have to tighten the string gradually. If the peak is lower than the 1st vertical line, you have to loose the string progressively.
- Keep trying until the peak is close enough to the vertical line and, therefore, turns green for a moment.
Repeat the procedure for all the strings of your lyres, and after you finish, recheck them at least once more.
Tuner doesn't work
When visiting this page for the first time, a pop-up window will appear asking you to grant access to the lyre tuner to use your microphone (see image below). It is crucial to click on the "Allow" button for the tuner to work properly.
The pop-up window when using Chrome.
If the lyre tuner doesn't work on your device, even if you granted access to the microphone, there might be several issues that are not related to the actual tuner. If you are experiencing difficulties, try the following:
- There might be a compatibility issue between a part of your device's hardware (i.e., soundboard) and the app. So, try to use the tuner app from a different device to verify the issue.
- There might be compatibility issues between your browser and the app. In that case, update your browser to the latest version and try again. If the problem persists, try to use another browser (both Chrome and Safari were extensively tested and proved to work in the long run).
What is the Hz value just below the tuner?
On the bottom left of the tuner, there is an always-changing value showing the loudest frequency that your device's microphone captures at any given time. Occasionally, when this frequency is close enough to one of the notes you try to tune your lyre in, it will show you the "Target Hz" to help you fine-tune it.
What is tolerance?
Under the "advance tab," there is an option to change the tolerance of the tuner. Tolerance sets the range of frequencies that will cause the note to turn green and, therefore, let you know that a string is tuned.
If you need to tune your lyre perfectly, then change this to 0 Hz. If you are a beginner in tuning, though, leave it as it is (or even set it to a higher value). As you advance and become more familiar with the procedure, you can gradually change it to lower values.
What if I have a kithara or another musical instrument?
This tuner is specially designed for the lyre, the ancient kithara, and the phorminx, but it can also be used for other musical instruments. For example, the ancient sambuca can be tuned using this tuner too!
We plan to add more options soon, such as the ability to tune the ancient Greek epigonion and the pandura.
Tune your Lyre
The mobile version of this app helps you find the right notes for your lyre for any ancient Greek mode or genre you want. Choose your lyre's number of strings, the starting note, and the tuning mode, and you will get a row of notes to start tuning your lyre.
If you want, though, to experience everything this tool has to offer, and actually tune your lyre using it, then visit the page on your desktop, laptop, or tablet. You will find a lot more features, and a live tuning app to help you tune your lyre string by string.
Setting up the tuner!
First, let's prepare the tuner specifically for your lyre. We have to set the number of our lyre's strings and then choose the note of the first string (the lowest one). In case you need more options for your first note (such as semitones or even quarter tones) or to change an octave, click on the "show more" just below.
Then, you can choose to tune the lyre using one of the seven Greek modes, one of the three Greek genres, or the simple pentatonic scale.
What if I have a kithara or another musical instrument?
This tool is specially designed for the lyre, the ancient kithara, and the phorminx, but it can also be used for other musical instruments. For example, the ancient sambuca can be tuned using this tuner too!
We plan to add more options soon, such as the ability to tune the ancient Greek epigonion and the pandura.
# tuning like the ancients
Using the ancient modes to evoke specific feelings
The ancient Greek philosophers had a lot to say about the musical modes and the feelings they evoke in a person. Plato, for example, believed that music had a powerful effect on the soul and could be used to educate and improve moral character. He, along with his pupil Aristotle, believed that certain modes were more suited to certain types of character and could be used to elicit specific emotional responses in listeners. Other ancient Greek philosophers, such as Pythagoras and Ptolemy, also wrote about the musical modes and their effects on the human psyche.
Overall, the ancient Greeks believed that music had a powerful effect on the emotions and could be used to evoke a wide range of feelings in listeners. For example, Plato believed that the Dorian mode was well suited to military music and could be used to stir up feelings of courage and bravery in listeners. He also believed that the Phrygian mode was well suited to lamentation and could be used to evoke feelings of sorrow and grief.
Aristotle also believed that certain modes were better suited to certain types of music. He argued that the Dorian mode was well suited to heroic and martial music, while the Phrygian mode was well suited to lamentation. He also believed that the Lydian mode was well suited to music that was meant to be soothing and calming, while the Mixolydian mode was well suited to music that was meant to be more lively and upbeat.
Learn more about the connection between feelings and ancient musical modes
If you would like to dive deeper into the ethos theory, here are some great places to start your journey.
- Plato, The Republic, Book III: In this work, Plato discusses the role of music in education and character development, and he argues that certain modes are better suited to certain types of character and can be used to elicit specific emotional responses in listeners.
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Aristotle, The Politics, Book VIII: In this work, Aristotle discusses the role of music in society and argues that certain modes are better suited to certain types of music and can be used to create a desired emotional response in listeners.
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Ptolemy, Harmonics: In this work, Ptolemy discusses the mathematical principles underlying musical modes and discusses the effects that different modes can have on listeners.
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Iamblichus, The Pythagorean Way of Life: In this work, Iamblichus discusses the philosophy of Pythagoras and the role of music in the Pythagorean way of life. He argues that music has a powerful effect on the soul and can be used to evoke specific emotional responses in listeners.
Why the ancient and the modern modes with the same name are different?
The ancient Greek musical modes and the modern musical modes that bear the same name are not necessarily the same, and there are a few reasons for this.
One reason is that the ancient Greek modes were used in a very different musical context than the modern modes. The ancient Greek modes were based on a specific system of musical scales that was used in the performance of vocal music. These scales were used to create melodies and harmonies, and the different modes were distinguished by the specific intervals that made up their scales.
In contrast, the modern modes are used in a much wider range of musical contexts and are not necessarily based on the same scales or intervals as the ancient Greek modes. The modern modes are used in various styles of music, including classical, jazz, and popular music, and they are often used to create melodies and harmonies in a different way than the ancient Greek modes.
Another reason why the ancient Greek modes and the modern modes that bear the same name are not necessarily the same is that there has been a great deal of development and evolution in the way that music has been understood and practiced over the centuries. The ancient Greek modes were just one of many systems of musical scales and modes that have been used throughout history, and there have been many different interpretations and understandings of these modes over time.
In short, the ancient Greek modes and the modern modes that bear the same name are not the same because they are used in different musical contexts and are based on different systems of scales and intervals. This a reflection of the fact that music and musical concepts have evolved and developed over time.
Ancient Greek and Modern Modes
Greek Mixolydios is similar to the modern Locrian.
Greek Hypodorios/Locrian is similar to the modern Aeolian.
Greek Lydios is similar to the modern Ionian.
Greek Phrygios is similar to the modern Dorian.
Greek Dorios is similar to the modern Phyrgian.
Greek Hypolydios is similar to the modern Lydian.
Greek Hypophrygios is similar to the modern Mixolydian.
who created the Lyre Tuning web app?
The need for a lyre tuner has emerged the recent years as the ancient lyre gradually attracts more and more people from around the world. The latter became true mainly thanks to the efforts of the LUTHIEROS team who has given us great lyres, the SEIKILO team behind the Ancient World Music YouTube Channel, and the LyreAcademy team who has developed an educational system for this musical instrument.
In 2022, an aspiring lyre player who is also an amazing programmer got in touch with us and let us know that he is willing to work on a project like this, to meet some of his needs. Quickly, Nikolaos Koumartzis stepped in to help with all the musical & historical research needed, along with finding an ergonomic layout design for the web app. Later on, Lina Palera & Michael Levy helped with testing the app, along with its ancient modes and genres.
As a result, at the dawn of 2023, the first version of the app became widely (and freely) available, including all seven ancient Greek modes, three Greek genres, and the pentatonic scale. What's more, each one of them is offered in four different temperaments: equal, just, meantone, and well.
It is a work in progress, so don't hesitate to get in touch to help us fix the possible mistakes, and improve it overall.