<Ul> <Li> the lyre: a strummed and occasionally plucked string instrument, essentially a hand - held zither built on a tortoise - shell (chelys) frame, generally with seven or more strings tuned to the notes of one of the modes . The lyre was used to accompany others or even oneself for recitation and song . It was associated with an aristocratic upbringing and the cult of Apollo . </Li> <Li> the kithara, also a strummed string instrument, more complicated than the lyre . It had a box - type frame with strings stretched from the cross-bar at the top to the sounding box at the bottom; it was held upright and played with a plectrum . The strings were tunable by adjusting wooden wedges along the cross-bar . It is one possible origin of the contemporary guitar . </Li> <Li> the barbitos, a taller lyre considered to be the least complicated, often associated with satyrs . </Li> </Ul> <Li> the lyre: a strummed and occasionally plucked string instrument, essentially a hand - held zither built on a tortoise - shell (chelys) frame, generally with seven or more strings tuned to the notes of one of the modes . The lyre was used to accompany others or even oneself for recitation and song . It was associated with an aristocratic upbringing and the cult of Apollo . </Li> <Li> the kithara, also a strummed string instrument, more complicated than the lyre . It had a box - type frame with strings stretched from the cross-bar at the top to the sounding box at the bottom; it was held upright and played with a plectrum . The strings were tunable by adjusting wooden wedges along the cross-bar . It is one possible origin of the contemporary guitar . </Li> <Li> the barbitos, a taller lyre considered to be the least complicated, often associated with satyrs . </Li>

According to available evidence early greek music was