Scheitholt

The Scheitholt is an older type of European zither, characterized by a narrow, rectangular sound box and fewer melody strings. Its three or more bass strings typically provide a droning accompaniment. The Scheitholt was described by composer Michael Praetorius in the early 17th century and is found across Europe.1

Zithers, in general, are stringed instruments where the strings run parallel to and are the same length as the soundboard. They are widely distributed across Eurasia, the Americas, and Africa. The European zither typically has 30-40 strings stretched over a flat sound box. Melody strings are stopped by a fretted fingerboard, while other strings provide accompaniment. The zither family also includes instruments like the musical bow, long zithers (e.g., Japanese koto), and flat zithers such as the dulcimer and autoharp.21