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// Chapter 59- Harp Calling 
// Story: Reformed Unicorn Group Podcast 
// by Quoterific 
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"As another part of Sunset's and Lyra's bonding session, Lyra has brought her harp to show us how to play it," Starlight introduced Lyra again to the show, as well as introducing them to what they had planned for today, "Thank you so much for bringing your instrument along, and tell us, how long have you been playing it?"

"The reason I got my cutie mark really," Lyra explained, tuning her harp to make sure it was making a clear sound, "I started getting into music when I was a filly. It sort of grew from there. I'm not as famous as Octavia or DJ PON-3 when it comes to music. I just play it as a past time leisure."

"And there's noting wrong with that," Sunset smiled, if somewhat strained, "How do you play a harp with hooves rather than...hands." Sunset felt her eye twitch as the word 'hands' came out of her mouth.

"The same as your guitar really," Lyra explained, "The angel of the hoof against the strings help make the sound you want. It's important to first get a solid foundation with your harp. It's heavy, of course, so you don't want to be off balance when you play it."

"How do you know which string is which?" Tempest asked, "It's just some strings, with some coloured white, red and black."

"Don't listen to her, Lisa," Lyra cooed as she stroked the top of her harp.

"Great, she's even gone to name her instrument," Sunset rolled her eyes.

"The red strings are all your Cs," She said as she plucked all the red strings, "The black strings are all the Fs. For the A strings, some strings inbetween the red and blacks are in groups of two and three. The A is the middle of the groups of three." She then demonstrated a C scale on the harp. The others listened with interest. 

"How do you tune your strings?" Starlight asked in curiosity.

"A special key piece helps adjust the tuning pin at the top," Lyra said, showing them the turning key, "Another thing is posture. This is why I like to sit like this." She sat with her hindlegs over the edge, the harp resting at an angle on her chest. Sunset gave her posture an eyeroll. Of course she had to sit like a human.

"Now, would you care to give an example with a song?" Starlight smiled.

"Of course, and I've got just the one." Taking a deep breath, she placed her forelegs on the correct strings and began to play. She rolled her hooves across the strings, closing her eyes as she got into the rhythm. The others sat with smiles on their faces, Trixie and Sunset closing her eyes to get into the music. They swayed to the sound of the music, the magic of music working into them.

Soon the song came the end, Lyra finishing with a flourish on the strings. The others clapped their hooves together.

"Beautiful," Starlight simply said.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is moved," Trixie wiped a tear.

"Stunning," Sunset smiled.

"Could...could you play another song?" Tempest asked.

"I'd be happy to, but I need to get my electric harp out." She turned and got out her other harp. It was more shiny and had cables connected to a sound box. Beside it was a loop pedal. The others looked at each other with questioning looks.

"This is going be interesting," Starlight thought out loud. The others nodded in agreement. After some trick tuning, checks, connections and practices, Lyra smiled and the others came and sat around the electric harp. She took another deep breath  and played. She played with a quick pace, even tapping the base of the harp with her hindlegs. The others looked at her actions with curious looks. That was when she used the loop pedal to record replay each section. The others were starting to sound impressed. 

They bobbed along with the rhythm, swaying to the music. When the song ended the others clapped their hooves again, more louder than before.

"That was amazing!" Tempest complimented with enthusiasm.

"Thanks," Lyra waved a hoof, "But as I said, I'm no Octavia or DJ PON-3," Lyra chuckled sheepishly.

"Who knows, with every creature listening, this might be your big break," Starlight complimented, "Well, that's all we have time for, every creature. Thank you to Lyra for brining us her harps to play and we will see you all again soon!"