zither
Flat plucked instrument
A zither is a stringed musical instrument with a flat, shallow soundbox, played by plucking or strumming the strings while the instrument rests on a table or the player's lap.
Unlike guitars or violins, zithers have no neck—the strings stretch across the entire body.
The instrument appears in various forms across European folk traditions, most famously in Alpine music: The Third Man theme features a haunting zither melody.
Thin flexible lines
- pluckedPulled out forcefully
- chordophoneInstrument sounding via tensioned filaments
- soundboardTone-amplifying wooden surface
- fingerboardString instrument's pitch surface
fretted · tabletop · autoharp · koto · psaltery · dulcimer · hummel · pick
Small plucked string instrument
Amplified oscillation at natural frequency
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- vibrationsRapid oscillating motions
- stringsThin flexible lines
- pluckingRemoving by tugging
strumming · soundboard · tonewood · sustain · overtones · pitch · intonation · tuning
Pleasing sequence of notes
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- arpeggioSuccessive chord tones
- scaleMeasure of relative size
tune · accompaniment · composition · arrangement · countermelody · drone · ostinato · refrain
strings
Thin flexible lines
- pluckedPulled out forcefully
- chordophoneInstrument sounding via tensioned filaments
- soundboardTone-amplifying wooden surface
fingerboard · fretted · tabletop · autoharp · koto · psaltery · dulcimer · hummel · pick · tuning
lyre
Small plucked string instrument
- psalteryPlucked medieval string instrument
- harpPlucked orchestral strings
- lutePear-bodied fretted strings
rebec · historical · classical · antiquity
resonance
Amplified oscillation at natural frequency
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- vibrationsRapid oscillating motions
- stringsThin flexible lines
plucking · strumming · soundboard · tonewood · sustain · overtones · pitch · intonation · tuning · fingerpicking
melody
Pleasing sequence of notes
scale · tune · accompaniment · composition · arrangement · countermelody · drone · ostinato · refrain · theme
tradition
Custom passed through generations
Bavarian · village · ballad · storytelling · festival · cultural · ethnomusicology · roots · regional · peasant
recital
Solo musical performance
- concertLive musical performance
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
repertoire · audience · stage · chamber · ensemble · accompaniment · technique · tremolo · glissando · arrangement
- European instrumentsaccordion, bagpipes, balalaika, bandura, bodhran
- instrumentsguitars, piano, pianos, drum, drums
- stringed instrumentslyre, lute, mandolin, harp, banjo
- European FolkIrish folk, Celtic music, fado, flamenco, polka
- Alpine CultureAlps, alpine meadows, alpine huts, alpine villages, alphorn
- ancient instrumentslyre, harp, pan pipes, pan flute, shofar
zithercello
Deep-voiced bowed instrument
double bass · upright bass · violin · harp · contrabass
zitherelectric guitar
Amplified stringed instrument
synthesizer · drum kit · turntables · theremin · sitar