Help me find a instrument

[cat]

Hi I recently had a go at playing my friend chineese harp which I found realy great and has a lovly sound.

I don't realy play anything and know little about instruments so can any one suggest an instrument that can be plucked is fairly easy to transport(on a motorbike) and not too expensive and easy to play.

i'd realy like a harp like his but its just not practical or possible at the moment.

I may be asking for the moon here.
Any ideas would be great

Cheers Cath

[Corwen]

I make these:

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=36293&start=0&hilit=kantele

[celticmodes]

I was thinking along the same line. Some form of plucked psaltery or even a small auto harp depending on what sound you are looking for. I'm a harper and started with a zither I found in the top of a closet in a rental house. The octave+ gave me enough notes to form simple chords and melodies. There is also something to be said for a pentatonic instrument with few strings.

It all depends on what your vision is. How do you see yourself using the instrument? Singing with chords underneath? Simple melodies? Meditative strumming? Where did I see some do it yourself thingy...Oh here it is. http://www.harpkit.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=MK&Category_Code=revharp

[somerled]

A really easy to learn and quick result instrument is the bowed psaltery. It is a string instrument in the family of harp, zither and dulcimer, though it is not plucked. It has a wonderful etherical sound. If you know already some music it takes about 5 minutes to play your first tune, if not it takes about half an hour.

I started playing with two bows after a while, to create a second voice according with the melody. It doesn't take that much of your time to learn and you get a lot in return. It is like a meditation to me.

I got mine at http://www.unicornstrings.com, but a search on google learns that there are other providers available as well.

Blessings

Somerled

[cat]

Well after much hovering around on ebay I've bought a Lyre. Now just have to wait.

I've been searching for info on how to learn to play it and apparently i need to go to the cross roads at midnight and draw a circle with a black handled knife and wait for the fairy folk to come.

I think there must be other ways though so any help advise or pointers are most welcome.

Thanks for the advice realy helpfull.

Cat