Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Interested in learning how to play the zither and wondering where to start? Use this section to post your questions.

Moderator: Dave

Jodelhole
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2019 11:05 pm

Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Jodelhole »

Hello.

It's real now; I'm going to learn to play this wonderful instrument. Web-based resources will be the mainstay, given the fact that I live in north-eastern Washington State. There's a wealth of information on this site / forum. I'll try to find answers before making blanket requests.

Acquired a Framus zither (1966 build?); have attached a photo (attempted). The instrument has an unusual string configuration. Missing one string and tuning tool.

https://forum.zither.us/download/file.p ... iew&id=650
Attachments
Framus 1.jpg
Framus 1.jpg (2.66 MiB) Viewed 5413 times
NutmegCT
Posts: 254
Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2014 10:31 pm
Location: Connecticut!
Contact:

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by NutmegCT »

Welcome to Zither.us!

How'd you get interested in playing this wonderful instrument?

For me, it was first hearing Anton Karas in The Third Man. What a fascinating post-WW2 film.

And where did you buy that beautiful zither of yours? You're indeed a lucky man.

Tom M.
Andy
Posts: 131
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:36 am
Location: Austin TX
Contact:

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Andy »

Welcome!

That is a beautiful instrument! You’re very fortunate to have found such a nice zither to start learning on. I would recommend checking out Keyes Scales earlier than later in addition to whatever instruction book you decide to work out of. It can be found on the site. Good to have another new player!

- Andy
Jodelhole
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2019 11:05 pm

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Jodelhole »

Hi Tom!

Thanks for the welcome.

I've listened to traditional alpine music for 30+ years, which of course, is loaded with zither. We play accordion, tuned cowbells and jodel. After purchasing what turned out to be a wall-hanger zither on Ebay 20 yrs ago, I decided to wait for the right one/right time. Obtained this on Craigslist, from the widow of a German immigrant. She's from Holland.

This first time I heard one was on a Johann Strauss album, "Tales From the Vienna Woods": was haunted with its unique beauty since.

This will surely be a labor of love. I hope to play a few simple pieces well, rather than difficult pieces half well.

This instrument has been well cared for...deserves to have its voice heard again.

Steve B.
Jodelhole
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2019 11:05 pm

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Jodelhole »

Thank you, Andy.

A scales method/system recommendation is exactly what I need first. Next, determine if I'm smart enough and have the dexterity to put it all together. No shortcuts in music, just study and practice.

Steve B.
Evelyn
Posts: 73
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:23 am
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Evelyn »

Welcome Steve

Congratulations, this is a very nice zither indeed. It is a so-called Kreuzsaitige (cross-stringed) Zither, aka Perfekta Zither, with the contrabass strings crossing the bass strings at an angle. The first instruments of this rather rare, I think, design were built in Vienna at around 1890 by Franz Xaver Güttler; Max Amberger built them in Munich.

http://www.studia-instrumentorum.de/MUS ... R/3926.htm

Also found this on the Framus website:
"A top model was the 42-string, made of rosewood, air resonating zither Kreuzperfekta model 7/42 outfitted with alpine rose strings."
http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/mo ... 4671&cl=EN

Edited to add that Franz Schwarzer (Washington, Missouri) built them in the US:
http://collections.nmmusd.org/Zithers/S ... 12970.html
Last edited by Evelyn on Sun Feb 03, 2019 8:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jodelhole
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2019 11:05 pm

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Jodelhole »

Hi Evelyn!

Thank you for the nice note. And the information is very enlightening. Having never seen a zither of this configuration, I was hesitant to acquire it, but then saw it in person; it was love at first sight.

I'd like to find a zitherist within a few hundred miles; for lessons and to hear this one played. All in good time...

Thanks again.

Steve B
Rudy Mueller
Posts: 603
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:33 am
Location: Grafton WI 53024 RMUELLERMKE@GMAIL.COM

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Rudy Mueller »

Did you find a tuning wrench? What is the size of the tuning pegs? square or rectangular? If interested, e-mail your mailing address.

Rudi
kenbloom
Posts: 212
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 11:50 am
Location: Pilot Mountain, NC
Contact:

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by kenbloom »

Getting a tuning wrench for this instrument will be easy since it is a relatively modern one. In a pinch I've even used a modern star wrench that is intended for hammered dulcimer or autoharp but the regular square zither wrench is easier to use. Perfekta zithers are rare and hard to find. I love mine. It makes reaching the contra bass strings so much easier. I have an old Amberger but the one I play all the time is an Adol[ph Meinel senior. You can get all the supplies you need from Ann Prinz. You will get plenty of help and support from the kind folks on this site. It is a great resource and welcome to our mania!!

Ken Bloom
http://www.boweddulcimer.org
Jodelhole
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2019 11:05 pm

Re: Newbie; The Journey Begins!

Post by Jodelhole »

Rudy Mueller wrote: Sun Feb 03, 2019 8:07 am Did you find a tuning wrench? What is the size of the tuning pegs? square or rectangular? If interested, e-mail your mailing address.
Rudi
Hi Rudy.
I haven't determined the size of the square pegs: they look to be approximately 3 to 4 mm, but I should get a caliper measurement. The peg ends all look unscathed.
My Email address is: sbruchman@hotmail.com

(Please excuse my clunkiness, as this is the first online forum in which I've participated. Amazing to meet so many wonderful people!)
Post Reply