Zither

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/zither

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the hornbostel–sachs classification?Chordophone, specifically a zither class instrument
2. What is the distinguishing feature from lutes/guitars?Absence of a distinctly separate neck assembly
3. How many strings can a zither have?Zithers can have just one drone string or dozens of melody and accompaniment strings, giving musicians lots of ways to play.
4. Where did the zither come from?The zither’s roots go back to ancient times, with early versions like the Greek kithara. It spread across Europe, Asia, and later to America, where new styles were made.

Chordophone: A musical instrument that produces sound primarily by means of vibrating strings.
Resonating Chamber: A hollow space within an instrument that amplifies and enriches the sound produced by vibrating elements.
Plectrum: A small, flat tool, often made of plastic or other hard material, used to pluck or strum strings.
Fretted Fingerboard: A surface on a stringed instrument with raised bars (frets) that shorten the vibrating length of strings to produce specific pitches.