(Ger. Gitarren-Zither, Harfen-Zither).
(1) A type of zither without a fingerboard, manufactured from the late 19th century onwards and found mostly in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the USA. Variants include the ‘mandolin guitar zither’ or ‘mandolin harp zither’, which has double stringing. A typical instrument has melody strings tuned chromatically or partly chromatically, usually c'–c''', played with a plectrum on the right thumb, and 24 or more accompanying strings tuned in five or six chords, usually major, plucked with the fingers of the left hand (see illustration). Some models have no melody strings and are used purely for accompaniment. A related instrument, with a similar sound and function, is the Autoharp.
(2) A variant of the modern fretted zither that has a pillar between the wrest plank and the body. See Zither, §2.
For bibliography see Zither.
ANDREAS MICHEL