Kanklės is a traditional Lithuanian folk string instrument. The sound is produced by covering (muting) unnecessary strings with one hand while playing and plucking the other strings with the other hand‘s fingers.

This instrument was quite popular not only in Lithuania, but in several nearby countries, where it went by a distinct name: Latvia (kuokle), Estonia (kantele) and Northern Russia (gusli). Although the name was not the only thing different about these instruments – depending on the country they also had a unique form, number of strings, were made and played differently. Usually it was a solo instrument, but it would also sound well in ensembles (along with the leading violins, bass-playing string instruments and rhythmic percussion instruments).