Zhetygen. The zhetygen is an ancient seven-stringed plucking instrument, resembling psaltery-gusli in its shape or recumbent harp. The most ancient type of zhetygen was oblong box, hollowed from the piece of wood. There were no upper sounding board, no pins on that kind of zhetygen. Strings were stretched by hand from the outer side of the instrument. Later the upper part of zhetygen was covered by wooden sounding board. Asyks were put under each string from both sides. Strings could be tuned by moving the asyks. If they were drawn together the pitch rose, when moved apart -went down. At present the reconstructed zhetygen is used in folklore ensembles. The number of strings was increased to fifteen for the range distension in the instrument. Tuning of the strings is made by pins and by     moving     of    supports. Zhetygen is notable for the mellow, melodious sound. See «Legends» for the mournful    history    of zhetygen’s origin.