How the trough zither makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the trough zither belongs to the zithers: strings are stretched across a body without a neck, so the string bearer and resonator are one unit.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
Trough zithers are a group of African stringed instruments or chordophones whose members resemble wooden bowls, pans, platters, or shallow gutters with strings stretched across the opening. A type of zither, the instruments may be quiet, depending upon the shape of the bowl or string-holder. Sound is often amplified with the addition of a gourd resonator. Instruments have been classed into five different types, based on shape.
The resonator is most commonly a gourd, but tin cans have also been used.
Other zithers
Frequently asked questions
What does a trough zither sound like?
As one of the zithers, its sound comes from the way strings are stretched across a body without a neck, so the string bearer and resonator are one unit.
What type of instrument is the trough zither?
It is classified as zithers (Hornbostel–Sachs 315).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q55724763 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Trough zither – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Niragira Olympe – CC BY-SA 4.0