Editing Lyre (section)

=== Construction ===
A classical lyre has a hollow body or sound-chest (also known as [[soundbox]] or resonator), which, in ancient Greek tradition, was made out of turtle shell.<ref name=Perseus /><ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lyre Entry "Lyre"] at Dictionary.com. Retrieved on 2012-09-17.</ref> Extending from this sound-chest are two raised arms, which are sometimes hollow, and are curved both outward and forward. They are connected near the top by a crossbar or yoke. An additional crossbar, fixed to the sound-chest, makes the bridge, which transmits the vibrations of the strings. The deepest note was that closest to the player's body; since the strings did not differ much in length, more weight may have been gained for the deeper notes by thicker strings, as in the [[violin]] and similar modern instruments, or they were tuned by having a slacker ''tension''. The strings were of [[Catgut|gut]] (animal intestines). They were stretched between the yoke and bridge, or to a tailpiece below the bridge. There were two ways of tuning: one was to fasten the strings to pegs that might be turned, while the other was to change the placement of the string on the crossbar; it is likely that both expedients were used simultaneously.<ref name=West1992/>

Lyres were used without a [[fingerboard]], no Greek description or representation having ever been met with that can be construed as referring to one. Nor was a bow possible, the flat sound-board being an insuperable impediment. The pick, or plectrum, however, was in constant use. It was held in the right hand to set the upper strings in vibration; when not in use, it hung from the instrument by a ribbon. The fingers of the left hand touched the lower strings (presumably to silence those whose notes were not wanted).<ref name=West1992/>