Question 1

True or false: Zither strings are typically plucked with a plectrum made of metal.

Accepted Answer

False. Zither plectrums are usually plastic (celluloid) worn on the thumb; metal is used but plastic is far more common.

Question 2

True or false: The zither has exactly 36 strings, no more and no less.

Accepted Answer

False. Zithers vary widely in string count; common models have 30 to 40 strings, but there is no fixed number. Some have as few as 15 or over 45.

Question 3

True or false: Zithers are always played flat on a table or the player's lap.

Accepted Answer

False. While many zithers are played horizontally, some variants like the Alpine zither are held upright or against the body, not always flat.

Question 4

True or false: The zither is the national instrument of Austria, not Germany.

Accepted Answer

True. The zither is widely considered Austria's national instrument, while Germany—though culturally associated—does not claim it as such.

Question 5

True or false: In the 1950s, the zither had a number-one hit in the US with the song 'The Third Man Theme.'

Accepted Answer

True. Anton Karas's zither performance of 'The Third Man Theme' hit #1 on the Billboard charts in 1950, a rare instrumental novelty.

Question 6

True or false: The zither is a direct ancestor of the piano, which was originally called the 'keyed zither.'

Accepted Answer

False. The piano evolved from the harpsichord and clavichord, not the zither. 'Keyed zither' is not a historical term for the piano.

Question 7

True or false: Modern electric zithers exist and are used in experimental rock music.

Accepted Answer

True. Artists like John Rose and bands such as The Incredible String Band have used electric zithers, and they appear in avant-garde and indie rock.

Question 8

True or false: The word 'zither' comes from the Greek word 'kithara,' which also gave us 'guitar.'

Accepted Answer

True. Both 'zither' and 'guitar' derive from the ancient Greek 'kithara,' a stringed instrument, showing a shared linguistic root across cultures.

Zither Trivia Questions