The waldzither (German: "forest zither") is a plucked string instrument from Germany.

It is a type of cittern that has nine (sometimes ten) steel strings in five courses.

The most Common Tuning for the Waldzither is Open C (C3, G3, C4, E4, G4) which is the same tuning as a Banjeaurine (or a 5 string Banjo with a Capo on the 5th fret) except that the 5th string is 2 Octaves lower than on the Banjeaurine.

Martin Luther was popularly said to have played a similar cittern at the Wartburg.

[1][2] When the lowest single course is omitted, it is sometimes called a waldoline, a portmanteau of waldzither and mandoline.