| Guitar |
From the Spanish development
of its Arabic ancestor, and now the most commonly played
member of the folk-lute family. |
| Mandolin |
A well-known member of the folk-lute
family, dating back to the 18th Century. Its versatility
can be heard in music ranging from Italian baroque to American
country. |
| Bowed Psaltery |
A variant of the ancient plucked
psaltery of the middle east. It was developed as a bowed
zither in Austria in the 20th Century and is now common
as a folk instrument in America. |
| Hammer Dulcimer |
A type of zither played with small
wooden hammers that evolved in the middle east about a thousand
years ago. Over time it has spread to many cultures and
today is best known as an American folk instrument. |
| Irish Bouzouki |
A 20th century adaptation of a much
older Greek instrument. Tuned an octave lower than the mandolin,
it is frequently heard in folk ensembles today. |
