The cittern was popular in the Renaissance, related to the lute but much more complex. It evolved from the citole, another ancestor of the guitar. Citterns featured a flat back, as opposed to the traditionaly rounded backs of lutes and mandolins, as well as a longer neck. Citterns also had a great many more frets, as many as eighteen or nineteen. While only having four to six courses of strings, it was one of the first to have wire strings instead of twisted gut.At present, the only comercially available citterns are those from Elepaipo's Luthierre, Second Tier Ratha.
| Alder | Basswood | Boxwood | Black walnut |
| Burlwood | Cherry | Cocobolo | Copperleaf |
| Curly birch | Ebony | Fishtail oak | Hickory |
| Lacewood | Lemonwood | Pearwood | Silver maple |
| Walnut |
| Crafted | Parquet | Inlaid | Lacquered |
| Cutwork | Oiled | Painted | Polished |
| Time-worn | Varnished |