Orpharion

The orpharion is a plucked instrument from the renaissance. It is part of the cittern family. Its construction is similar to the larger bandora. The metal strings are tuned like a lute and are plucked with the fingers. Therefore, the orpharion can be used instead of a lute. Nut and bridge of an orpharion are typically sloped, so that the string length increases from treble to bass.

The orpharion was invented in England in the second half of the 16. century. In sources of English music it is often mentionend as an alternative to the lute.