The history of Western lute-like
string instruments.
Bowed and plucked instruments
with bodies and necks.

Go to the instruments of the month

Each month another unpublished instrument or a pair of instruments from the collection will be highlighted on this page . You will get correct and up to date information on traditional and historical European string instruments. Be surprised by the unknown!

The cittern family. The story of a popular instrument

To the collection of cittern type instruments

As a direct descendant of the ancient Greek "cythara", this instrument, despite its noble origin, has never been accepted in classical music.

But due to the frequent changes in names, tunings and shapes, this chameleon has remained popular among the splucked instruments up to the present day.

lutes

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under construction

Middle Ages

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under construction

Traditional

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under construction