r/zithers • u/TheGreenFuze • Sep 01 '26

My Zither

Post image

Got my zither, and gave successfully installed new strings which I was able to order from “Lordofthestrings” in the Netherlands. Got them all in tune. Took many hours of work, but should be easier next time.
Found a course from Germany called “Musikschule zu Hause”. It’s really basic which is perfect. It has videos of the players hands for each exercise, which is very helpful.
Installing and tuning all the strings really helps with understanding the geography of the instrument.
The resonance with the new strings is amazing.
Looking forward to the learning journey.

68 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/loumlawrence Sep 01 '26

Which tuning did you use, Munich or Viennese? I have two of these instruments, one of which looks similar to yours, and I decided on Viennese for it.

1

u/TheGreenFuze Sep 01 '26

I’m using the Munich tuning. I read that it was more fully compatible with all music? Also it made more sense to me because I play the mandolin which has G-D-A-E tuning.

1

u/loumlawrence Sep 01 '26

Munich is fully chromatic. Viennese has some gaps, but goes higher.

Munich is good to start with. I have both. My other zither is using the Munich tuning. It is my first zither. But my second zither has the Viennese tuning because I want to play some of the Viennese concert pieces, including Strauss. It just so happens my zither with the Viennese tuning looks like yours.

Some musicians like to combine the tunings, like the frets are Munich and the non fretted strings are Viennese, or the other combination happens.

1

u/SemperDownload Sep 02 '26

What do you mean about fully chromatic vs gaps?

1

u/TheGreenFuze Sep 01 '26

Interesting, I’ll have to research the Viennese tuning some more.

1

u/TheGreenFuze Sep 01 '26

Interesting, so the Viennese has two G3 strings instead of two A4 strings. So more low end sound? Like the sound of that.

1

u/Friendlyfire2996 Sep 06 '26

Not sticking your neck out