Autoharp

An autoharp, also known as a chord zither, is a stringed instrument (or musical instrument). It is in the zither family (of instruments). It is used for accompaniment in folk and country music, where chords are played by strumming strings while button-controlled bars mute all but the desired chord's strings.

Autoharp (center) by C.F. Zimmermann Co. in 1896–99; (left is a marxophone, right is a dolceola)

Autoharp

Classification	Board zither
Inventor(s)	Karl August Gütter, Charles F. Zimmermann
Related instruments
Zither, marxophone, dolceola