zither family
Quick Summary
The zither is a stringed musical instrument where the strings are the same length as its soundboard. European zithers typically have 30-40 gut or metal strings stretched across a flat sound box. Melody notes are produced by stopping strings against a fretted fingerboard with the left hand, while the right hand plucks an accompaniment on the farther, unstopped strings.1
The zither family is diverse, with instruments found globally. Examples include the long zithers of East Asia like the Japanese koto and Chinese qin, and various African board and raft zithers. Trapezoidal zithers, such as the Middle Eastern qanun and Persian santur, are ancestors to Western keyboard instruments like the harpsichord and piano.23
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zitherInstruments of the zither family assume a variety of forms. The body may be a flexible stick, as in the musical bow, or may be a rigid bar, as in many Indian and Southeast Asian and some African zithers. Bar zithers often have high frets; one-stringed varieties may…
Read MoreInstruments of the zither family assume a variety of forms. The body may be a flexible stick, as in the musical bow, or may be a rigid bar, as in many Indian and Southeast Asian and some African zithers. Bar zithers often have high frets; one-stringed varieties may…
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stringed instrumentZithersInstruments of the zither family, in which the strings lie parallel to and are of the same length as the string bearer (often also the resonator), are especially widely distributed in Eurasia, the Americas, and Africa. The least-complex zither type of instrument is the musical bow, shaped very…
Read MoreInstruments of the zither family, in which the strings lie parallel to and are of the same length as the string bearer (often also the resonator), are especially widely distributed in Eurasia, the Americas, and Africa. The least-complex zither type of instrument is the musical bow, shaped very…
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Japanese musicEarly evidence…a four- or five-stringed board zither across his lap. Crotal bells (pellet or jingle bells) are found on costumes, and some statues seem to be of singers. The zither is of special interest, for it is related to the Korean kayagŭm that appeared in the Kaya kingdom (on the central…
Read More…a four- or five-stringed board zither across his lap. Crotal bells (pellet or jingle bells) are found on costumes, and some statues seem to be of singers. The zither is of special interest, for it is related to the Korean kayagŭm that appeared in the Kaya kingdom (on the central…
Read More
Uragami Gyokudō…art of playing the seven-stringed zither.
Read More…art of playing the seven-stringed zither.
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