The Greek Lyra (made to party!)

Learning the Lyra, and in turn, learning how to party.

Dimitrios Dallas

My guitar courses are available within the Guitareo membership :)
Also, my beginner course, GuitarQuest, is still available on its own too

The channel is supported in part by Sweetwater’s affiliate program. Thanks for that!

Also...

[Dimitrios_Dallas]

Thank you Rob and Team for this great honor. Loved being part of this video and seeing the beautiful outcome!

[ckkakos]

Rob now you are officially Rob Scallontakis congrants

[skibbyskib]

I'll always appreciate Robs ability to give Midwest emo vibes with any and all instruments

[KarlVardanyan]

What a beautiful instrument! We, Armenians, (particularly from Hemshin) are very fortunate to share this instrument with our Greek brothers 🇦🇲❤🇬🇷

[wespapes]

I'm loving Rob showing off unique instruments from all over the world. Not only do we get history lessons and cultural appreciation, but beautiful msuic.

[Knifeawatermelon]

The video ending with Rob attending a Greek dance party is the most wholesome thing I've ever seen.

[Ecclesiastes]

10:41 The sounds of Pontus right there..goosebumps

[ΙσεένΑλάθος]

16:06 As a greek metalhead, I always wanted to hear tradional greek instruments to be blended with metal. So thanks for that part !

[stevetruculency]

As a metal guitar player that also plays Greek bouzouki, that jam session with the metal chugs and the traditional Greek Lyra was really amazing

[Exmortus]

For anyone interested in the lyrics at 13:06

- I've made the decision, to wear another heart
- To wear another heart, to be more strong (the heart), to love you more
- To be more strong (the heart), to love you more

[PzMcQunn]

You know he's a class A musician when at 16:06 Rob changes it up to be a bit more metal, and he just goes "Okay..." and switches it up

[rachiedone]

This is one of those instruments where you hear it and instantly go “OH that’s what makes that sound”

[ΗλίαςΚωνσταντινίδης-ιψ]

As a Greek watching this channel for the past 10 years, this video really cheered me up!

[zephryngower]

i love that moment of Rob being like "maybe the video should just be about the instrument and this culture" and Dimitrios is like "doesnt matter" so wholesome and real!

[JinnDante]

Lyra is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world and originated in Greece. Then Greeks used it during the Byzantine times and the instrument traveled all throughout the known world. There are many iterations of Lyra around Greece. It is amazing that you were curious enough to learn about music roots.

Warm thanks and Χαίρε from Ελλάς!

[olekaarvaag]

16:08 I love that moment. No words said but both on the same page about what's happening. He nailed that darker atmosphere perfectly.

[balaenopteramusculus]

Rob Scallon at a Greek party!? HELL YES!

[nicksidiropoulos]

Hijaz (Χιτζάζ) is phrygian dominant btw

[lyravain]

The Greek Lyra is, in concept, very much similar to the old-timey country banjo music you'll see on movies sometimes, that's the best I can describe it to Americans.
You know the scene, when the banjos come out and one guy starts singing "gather right round and dance along" and then it's about stepping right and left and everyone's just having fun and laughing? That's basically the Lyra.
Of course, much like the banjo, we accompany it with other instruments like the lute. Or more modern; guitar.
Lyra players and singers also tend to have great singing voices (as you might have noticed from Dimitrios) and tend to be very witty since they often have to improvise lyrics and short poems on the fly. There are 'set songs' of course, but you'll often see them improvise on the fly.
If that's the kind of 'community party' you're into and you don't mind sinking in some time to learn, it's a very interesting instrument to learn.

[guitarzleo]

Γεια σου πατριώτη Δημήτρη!!! Φιλιά από την πατρίδα, κουράγιο εκεί στα ξένα!

I am Greek as well and I got the chills listening to Dimitris pouring emotions out of his lyras!
Rob, I was surprised that you instandly got into the particular greek rythms on the guitar.
The Pontian songs and dances have fierce war-like themes and fast rythms, close enough to the metal chugging. I think you could experiment more with that to match those genres and do your kind of thing.

Cheers from Greece!