Bowed Zither

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Rectangular wooden box with strings on top

A zither is any instrument with strings stretched across a thin, flat body. A bowed zither is bowed in a smooth, stroking motion with a bow (rather than being plucked). Because it is played like a “table violin”, the sound is similar to that of a violin. But deeper and darker. There are many different types of bowed zithers, and they usually sound hauntingly beautiful.

How to Obtain

The bowed zither I own is called a ‘Violin-Uke’ (or Ukelin), produced in the US in the early 1900s. I prefer Violin-Ukes to the more common triangular shaped bowed zithers because they are able to play legato (connected) notes more easily with both hands holding one long violin bow, rather than each hand holding a smaller bow. I recommend searching for a used one online.

How to Learn

This depends greatly on what type of bowed zither you find. As with any bowed instrument, practicing smooth strokes with even pressure and speed is important for producing a favorable sound.

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