Editing Cittern (section)

{{Short description|Plucked string instrument}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Cither|zither|gittern}}
{{Infobox Instrument
|name   = Cittern
|names  = [[French language|Fr]]. ''cistre'', [[Italian language|It]]. ''cetra'', [[German language|Ger]]. ''Cister, Zister'', [[Spanish language|Sp]]. ''cistro, cedra, cítola''
|image  = MuseuMusicaBCN 8845.jpg
|image_size = 
|caption=  Cittern exhibited at the <br>[[Music Museum of Barcelona]]
|classification = [[String instrument]] ([[plucked string instrument|plucked]])
|hornbostel_sachs = [[List of musical instruments by Hornbostel-Sachs number: 321.322|321.322-5]]
|hornbostel_sachs_desc = [[necked box lute]]<!-- : string instrument with a box-like shaped body and a long neck -->, plucked with fingers
|developed = 16th century
|range  =
|related= {{collapsible list|
* [[Cetra]]
* [[Citole]]
* [[Ceterone]]
* [[English guitar]]
* [[Portuguese guitar]]
* [[Halszither]]
* [[Waldzither]]
* [[Zither]]
}}
}}

The '''cittern''' or '''cithren''' ([[French language|Fr]]. ''cistre'', [[Italian language|It]]. ''cetra'', [[German language|Ger]]. ''Cister,'' [[Spanish language|Sp]]. ''cistro, cedra, cítola'')<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Cittern|volume=6|pages=399–400}}</ref> is a stringed instrument dating from the [[Renaissance]]. Modern scholars debate its exact history, but it is generally accepted that it is descended from the [[medieval]] [[citole]] (or cytole). Its flat-back design was simpler and cheaper to construct than the [[lute]]. It was also easier to play, smaller, less delicate and more portable. Played by people of all social classes, the cittern was a popular instrument of casual music-making much like the [[guitar]] is today.