Ilse, that was exactly what i was looking for. My wife found a vintage W. Fischer zither and was having a headache tuning it. Thank you do much for your great video. All the best
Thanks for watching, glad I could help.Where in the world do you live and can you play zither or plan learning it, or play another instrument? Lots of other help videos on my channel and also a beginners teaching book(in Engl) and play alongs (Book and CD). Cheers from Australia,Ilse.
@@zithergirl I live in England, although I was originally born and bred in Rome, Italy. I have been playing guitar for 45 years, most of them professionally, and I also play bass and a plethora of exotic stringed instruments (oud, bouzouki, Arab-Andalus mandole, sitar, banjo: I have a strong lifelong interest in Arabic, Indian and African music). The zither is such a beautiful instrument, but learning to play it seems a daunting task, with all the coordination between the fingers. Moreover, I have three small children, and the time to even practice my own instruments is so very limited. I followed your channel for quite a long time, just as an appreciator of zither music. I just love all your videos, performances and tutorials alike. They bring me an enormous degree of pleasure, and for a little bit make me forget the outside world. Keep up the excellent work, Ilse, I love it! What about you, which part of Germany (or Austria) do you come from, and how long have you been living in Australia for?
I wish I could find one of these, in reasonable condition for a few hundred pounds. The only ones I’ve seen for sale are antique connoisseur pieces, for several thousands.
@@zithergirl yes I am a singer and piano teacher and paint instruments too and found one! I believe it is a Mandolin Guitar Zither. I am trying to restore it as best I can and am stuck on which strings to buy though ! I have tried to use standard harp strings to test if it will even work!
Thanks for looking at my channel.Look at my video"How to restring a concert zither" it shows that I order my strings online and I use Lenzner strings. Details on how to order in the video. Send a photo of your instrument with measurements, they will quote, accept PayPal and send by airmail, anywhere in the world. What country are you?Also on my website are the LINK Pages for Lenzner and Lorenz Muehlemann(Switzerland) check out his website,he also runs seminars and sells the sheetmusic for the Akkord zithers.Good luck. Ilse
Thank you for the helpful video. I just purchased one of these instruments very much like yours. I need to buy strings and I am wondering where you buy your strings. Let me know if you can. Thank you-
I am looking for a store to buy supplies for zither playing. And also new made Zithers. I also can make perhaps make a zither if I can find the special parts.
Thanks for your positive comment. I think you can buy plans to build your own zither from "Guild Of American Luthiers". Strings you can buy from Germany, links on my website ww.zither.com.au
the different tunings mostly affect the fretboard string on which you play the melody.Switching is not easy and takes time, you might have to start all over again. Vienna tuning is still played in some Austrian countries, but Munich tuning is now considered the STANDARD in most countries like Germany, US etc..It is a bit like imperial versus metric measurements. Imperial (inches, feet, miles) is still used in some countries but metric is replacing it. My book"LET'S START THE CONCERT ZITHER" is in Munich/Standard tuning for absolute beginners, it is available as downloadable file with mp3 audio file on which each exercise is individually recorded on zither.
@@zithergirl thank you :) Your video with tuning was very inspiring to renew my grandpa's zither and start learning. I tuned most strings in Munich by ear. I have some materials of a Pole called Alfred Plohn with excercises + also some old German/Austrian Polkas, Marsches, hand written songs. For now I have only problem with all 32 gauges, as it is not shared anywhere and I have to replace at least 4 of them. Some people advice to use guitar/mandolin gauges instead of buying expensive whole 32 stringed packs. I realize it's risky for wood and tuners but maybe there are some cheaper alternatives from other similar instruments. It's hard to measure mm of the current strings as I am not sure of their origin.
Hello Ilse! The video is very helpful, thanks! I'm planning to buy a zither, but the problem is that there are only very old second-hand zithers around on sale here, and their condition, as I can judge, is very poor. I've picked one, it looks relatively better than the others, but I don't know where's the catch in it. What do I need to look out for if I don't want to get stuck with a piece of useless junk. I'd appreciate your advice. Greetings from Hungary!
So you have the fretboard and you strum and push down on the notes, the chords are the long strings you just sway with the ring finger. Kinda' like the dulcimer.
Thanks for comment, you have the gist of playing zither, but it is not a simple instrument to play.because pressing down on the frets has to be a clean and fast action and can be painful for the fingers in the beginning, they are steel strings. Same with the open strings, the ringfinger plays the bass; you have to develop callousses toget a good bass,index and middle finger play the chords, 2 fingers to strum over 3 strings.
Hi, go to my website "Zither Australia Publications" On the last page there are links to German string manufacturers and suppliers of strings if you live in USA
My zither has the same number of strings.the tuning of the accompaniment strings is the same as I explain in the video,they are tuned in perfect 5th, a red string followed by 3 white strings.The fretboard strings can be tuned to Munich(Standard) or Vienna tuning.(explanation on my website) Munich tuning is the more common tuning used for most teaching books ourdays. Good luck and enjoy learning.Cheers from sunny Australia. Ilse
Ilse, that was exactly what i was looking for. My wife found a vintage W. Fischer zither and was having a headache tuning it. Thank you do much for your great video. All the best
Thanks for watching, glad I could help.Where in the world do you live and can you play zither or plan learning it, or play another instrument?
Lots of other help videos on my channel and also a beginners teaching book(in Engl) and play alongs (Book and CD). Cheers from Australia,Ilse.
@@zithergirl I live in England, although I was originally born and bred in Rome, Italy. I have been playing guitar for 45 years, most of them professionally, and I also play bass and a plethora of exotic stringed instruments (oud, bouzouki, Arab-Andalus mandole, sitar, banjo: I have a strong lifelong interest in Arabic, Indian and African music). The zither is such a beautiful instrument, but learning to play it seems a daunting task, with all the coordination between the fingers. Moreover, I have three small children, and the time to even practice my own instruments is so very limited. I followed your channel for quite a long time, just as an appreciator of zither music. I just love all your videos, performances and tutorials alike. They bring me an enormous degree of pleasure, and for a little bit make me forget the outside world. Keep up the excellent work, Ilse, I love it! What about you, which part of Germany (or Austria) do you come from, and how long have you been living in Australia for?
I wish I could find one of these, in reasonable condition for a few hundred pounds. The only ones I’ve seen for sale are antique connoisseur pieces, for several thousands.
wow this is wonderful thank you!!
Thanks for your reply, glad it helped. Are just starting the zither?
@@zithergirl yes I am a singer and piano teacher and paint instruments too and found one! I believe it is a Mandolin Guitar Zither. I am trying to restore it as best I can and am stuck on which strings to buy though ! I have tried to use standard harp strings to test if it will even work!
Thanks for looking at my channel.Look at my video"How to restring a concert zither" it shows that I order my strings online and I use Lenzner strings. Details on how to order in the video. Send a photo of your instrument with measurements, they will quote, accept PayPal and send by airmail, anywhere in the world. What country are you?Also on my website are the LINK Pages for Lenzner and Lorenz Muehlemann(Switzerland) check out his website,he also runs seminars and sells the sheetmusic for the Akkord zithers.Good luck. Ilse
Thank you for the helpful video. I just purchased one of these instruments very much like yours. I need to buy strings and I am wondering where you buy your strings. Let me know if you can. Thank you-
I am looking for a store to buy supplies for zither playing. And also new made Zithers. I also can make perhaps make a zither if I can find the special parts.
Thanks for your positive comment. I think you can buy plans to build your own zither from "Guild Of American Luthiers". Strings you can buy from Germany, links on my website ww.zither.com.au
Just get a used one and restring it. You can buy some strings on line.
Nice update.
Rich&2 carnivorous kitty cats 🐈 🐱 ♥
Hi Can I switch between Monachium/Viennese tunings on concert zither? Which of these tunings is better for learning modern songs?
the different tunings mostly affect the fretboard string on which you play the melody.Switching is not easy and takes time, you might have to start all over again. Vienna tuning is still played in some Austrian countries, but Munich tuning is now considered the STANDARD in most countries like Germany, US etc..It is a bit like imperial versus metric measurements. Imperial (inches, feet, miles) is still used in some countries but metric is replacing it. My book"LET'S START THE CONCERT ZITHER" is in Munich/Standard tuning for absolute beginners, it is available as downloadable file with mp3 audio file on which each exercise is individually recorded on zither.
@@zithergirl thank you :) Your video with tuning was very inspiring to renew my grandpa's zither and start learning. I tuned most strings in Munich by ear. I have some materials of a Pole called Alfred Plohn with excercises + also some old German/Austrian Polkas, Marsches, hand written songs. For now I have only problem with all 32 gauges, as it is not shared anywhere and I have to replace at least 4 of them. Some people advice to use guitar/mandolin gauges instead of buying expensive whole 32 stringed packs. I realize it's risky for wood and tuners but maybe there are some cheaper alternatives from other similar instruments. It's hard to measure mm of the current strings as I am not sure of their origin.
Hello Ilse! The video is very helpful, thanks! I'm planning to buy a zither, but the problem is that there are only very old second-hand zithers around on sale here, and their condition, as I can judge, is very poor. I've picked one, it looks relatively better than the others, but I don't know where's the catch in it. What do I need to look out for if I don't want to get stuck with a piece of useless junk. I'd appreciate your advice. Greetings from Hungary!
Did you buy it? how did it work out? im in the same situation
So you have the fretboard and you strum and push down on the notes, the chords are the long strings you just sway with the ring finger. Kinda' like the dulcimer.
Thanks for comment, you have the gist of playing zither, but it is not a simple instrument to play.because pressing down on the frets has to be a clean and fast action and can be painful for the fingers in the beginning, they are steel strings. Same with the open strings, the ringfinger plays the bass; you have to develop callousses toget a good bass,index and middle finger play the chords, 2 fingers to strum over 3 strings.
Where do you buy zither strings?
Hi, go to my website "Zither Australia Publications" On the last page there are links to German string manufacturers and suppliers of strings if you live in USA
Hi Elsa! Thanks for your video. I bought an old zither with 38 strings. How many is yours? 🤔 Do you know if it's the same tunning. Thanks!
My zither has the same number of strings.the tuning of the accompaniment strings is the same as I explain in the video,they are tuned in perfect 5th, a red string followed by 3 white strings.The fretboard strings can be tuned to Munich(Standard) or Vienna tuning.(explanation on my website) Munich tuning is the more common tuning used for most teaching books ourdays. Good luck and enjoy learning.Cheers from sunny Australia. Ilse
@@ilseharris4434 Thanks, Elsa! Great information :) Thanks for your time. Cheers from Spain!