"Dream" played on a German 5-Chord Zither by Etienne de Lavaulx 

Any idea where to buy a zither like that in Australia?

@@jessieyang2490 5 years later.....Any answer? Haha, I want one too.

This one only needed a full restring and a good polish.

Kindly contact me via my website etiennedelavaulx.com.au Cheers, Etienne

Very different - the notes on the zither are limited. see the tuning below: This is the tuning I use on my 5 chord zither: Melody section: a0, b0, c1, d1, e1, f1, g1, a1, bflat1, b1, c2, d2, e2, f2, g2, a2, bflat2, b2, c3, d3, e3. Chords: from left to right: G major ( g1, d1, b0, gbass) D minor (f1, d1, a0 dbass) F major (f1, c1, a0, fbass) A minor (e1, c1, a0, abass) C major (e1, c1, g0, cbass). As you can see, we miss many of the chromatic notes. But because we only have 5 chords, we have to stick to the simplest keys: C major, A minor, F major D minor. So you have to arrange or compose for the zither knowing it's limitations. Cheers, Etienne

Hello Carol: here is how I tune my 5 chord zither: Melody section: a b c d e f g a bflat b c d e f g a bflat b c d e Chords: G major (g,d,b,gbass), D minor (f,d,a,dbass), F major (f,c,a,fbass), A minor (e,c,a,abass), C major (e,c,g,cbass) G major is often tuned to G minor (b down to bflat) as is the case in "Dream". What strings do I use? I use piano wire for the plain strings (they come in a big roll; plain steel guitar strings would be cheaper for just a few strings), I use wound steel guitar strings for the thin wound strings (.026" and .032”).You can get the bass made to size by string manufacturers. Try Lenzner for more info: LENZNER SAITENMANUFAKTUR Reinhard Renz e.K. Schulstrasse 18 D - 08265 Erlbach Germany Best regards, Etienne

@@guitarzither Thank you so much for the information! I just purchased a 6-chord version from a seller in France. I hope it plays as well as it looks. I love the tone of yours -- and, of course, your mastery of the instrument! Please keep sharing your skills with us. If you take requests, I would love to hear you play "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella." It is one of my favorite carols... Thank you again. You are amazing!

Thank you for this information. I will try to change the title. I may have to reload the video. Cheers

I occasionally find an old zither which I restore and restring. You can contact me via email (see website) for availiblity. You may also look for a 2nd hand one. Look for a 5 chord zither (with either single or double melody strings). Please note that I use my own tuning. I can send you the detail. Cheers.

No I didn't multi track. Simply my right hand plays melody - my left hand strums the chords. Cheers.

This is a 5 chord zither; some have single melody strings (total 41 strings, some like this one have double strings (62 strings). They are played the same way.

Hello Carla, could you please email me a photo of your friend's zither. You can find my email in my website; etiennedelavaulx.com.au Cheers.

Please contact me through my website etiennedelavaulx.com.au for detailed answer about stringing. Cheers.

Please contact me via my website. I have some german zithers available for sale.

Please look up HOPF in Germany and also Michael Marko. Cheers

Please email me on edelavaulx@gmail.com

+Lois Foglia-Amorosi I am not aware of this brand. Kindly email me a photo on edelavaulx@gmail.com

I am self taught. I borroughed the technique from strumming the guitar, which I also play. The index (wearing a finger pick) strums 1 2+ 1 2+ 1... the ring finger dampens the chord quickly after the 2nd beat to get a staccato effect. Besides that action, there is another type of damping: the thumb and the ring finger swipe over the chord I previously played so thet you don't get a mixture of several chord ringing together. That last action can be better seen in pieces with a simpler strum (E.G. Two french Hymns); this one is a tricky strum.

No I don't. This is the beauty of the chord zither. The right hand plays the melody and the left hand strumms the chords.

The everly brothers

@@shawndouglas9478 The Everly Brothers sang this song (and made it famous), but the song was composed by Boudleaux Bryant.

Hi, First, it needs to be the right instrument, then it needs to be restored, restrung and tuned to the revised tuning which I use. The cost is hard to estimate depending on who does the work, where you live etc...For further detail email me. Cheers, Etienne

Etienne de Lavaulx Hi Etienne. Is your revised tuning simpler? Could you please send it to me? leda.pocchi@mail.com

I use piano wire for the plain strings, steel guitar strings (0.032" and 0.026") for the thin wound strings and I get my bass strings custom made by Lenzner in Germany. Email me for more details

Hi Etienne, what's your email please?

Cimberly engel Wie lange spielst du schon?

The chords are: Intro: F Dm Gm C F Dm Gm C Verse: F Dm Gm C F Dm Gm C F Dm Gm C F Dm Gm C F Dm Gm C F Dm Gm C F Dm Gm C F Gm F F Chorus: Dm Dm Am Am Gm C F F Dm Dm Am Am Gm stop C C

Vielen Dank .. Ich habe die Saiten zu ändern, aber ich kann sie nicht finden.

Using a pair of Charter Oaks Mics. Look at my guitar videos and you can see the mics (Eg: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rm-37Uwg7Ns.html)

Ah! I see! thanks...great sound and playing INdeed

Here is how I tune my zither: Use a chromatic tuner or a tuning app on your phone: Melody section: a0 b0 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 a1 bflat1 b1 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 a2 bflat2 b2 c3 d3 e3 Chords: G major D minor F major A minor C major g1 d1 b0 gbass / f1 d1 a0 dbass / f1 c1 a0 fbass / e 1 c1 a0 abass / e 1 c1 g0 cbass Some pieces like this one are in the key of F Major and require the chord of G Major to be tune to G minor. If you want to use this tuning, you will need to change 4 (or 4 pairs of) strings: for a0, b0 use wound steel guitar 0.032" and for c1 and d1 use 0.026". Happy zither playing.

@@guitarzither Thank you for your answer ! Keep the great job. 👍

Hi, I use piano wire for the plain strings (they come in a big roll; plain steel guitar strings would be cheaper for just a few strings), I use wound steel guitar strings for the thin wound strings (.026", .032" and .036”).You can get the bass made to size by string manufacturers. Try Lenzner for more info:LENZNER SAITENMANUFAKTUR Reinhard Renz e.K. Schulstrasse 18 D - 08265 Erlbach Germany

No I don't. This is the beauty of the chord zither. The right hand plays the melody and the left hand strumms the chords.