Zither!

[NutmegCT]

Any zither players here?

I'm trying to learn ... and have a few questions.


View attachment 46455

I belong to an online Zither forum ... but they're a bit farther along than I am. (like *miles* farther along)

Thanks.
Tom (a/k/a Fumble Fingers)

 

[Basil]

We have a Zither my wife inherited, but it just sits there looking pretty. Neither of us plays it.

 

[GTP1960]

My mom had a nice red one......but it was comparable to yours like a ukulele is comparable to a 12 string guitar.

only thing I remember is we had a little spring steel soft hammer for it & I would use it to set the stage for Vincent price movies(closest I could come to laying on the organ keys) .........somehow that hammer just disappeared.

obviuosly you are a man of many interest.

 

[NutmegCT]

Guy - here's mine. First photo was just a web sample.

View attachment 46456

A man of many interests - well, sorta. "A hack of all trades, but master of none."

T.

 

[Basil]

Guy - here's mine. First photo was just a web sample.

View attachment 46456

A man of many interests - well, sorta. "A hack of all trades, but master of none."

T.

Cool! Looks like Picasso made a guitar.

 

[GTP1960]

Cool! Looks like Picasso made a guitar.

but is it british?

 

[NutmegCT]

Here's one, played by a master:

 

[GTP1960]

Wow....that was impressive.
i can't even turn a wrench with skill & dexterity.

 

[Basil]

That looks hard! Hard!

 

[NutmegCT]

That looks hard! Hard!

It is.

Here's a local Air Force guy who teaches zither. Might give you a clue -

View attachment 46463
Also investigates unusual aviation events.

 

[GTP1960]

No three armed zithering aliens here!

 

[NutmegCT]

No three armed zithering aliens here!

View attachment 46464

That's the repairman.

 

[pdplot]

Only 6 tuning pegs. How do you tune the other strings?
I gave up on the guitar because it had those 2 extra strings.
Now have 5 ukes. Still a mediocre player, unable to do anything but strum but I can play by ear like the piano.

 

[GTP1960]

I find these guitars to be a little less intimidating.

 

[GregW]

Only 6 tuning pegs. How do you tune the other strings?

From the photos, it looks like you'd use a tuning key. Like used to tune drums, or turn off the pilot light on my furnace for that matter.

 

[Basil]

From the photos, it looks like you'd use a tuning key. Like used to tune drums, or turn off the pilot light on my furnace for that matter.

Or how you tune a piano.

 

[NutmegCT]

Yep - uses a "tuning key" like this:

Pianos usually use something like this, due to the much higher tension on the strings:

View attachment 46467
Actually, I wish those five melody strings used a tuning key, and not the ivory "buttons". Those things are tough to turn!

 

[GregW]

Actually, I wish those five melody strings used a tuning key, and not the ivory "buttons". Those things are tough to turn!

Maybe something like this is in order?

 

[NutmegCT]

hmmm - an idea is brewing ...

 

[Basil]

hmmm - an idea is brewing ...

Does it involve Black and Decker?