The gusle (Albanian: lahuta, Croatian: gusle, Bulgarian and Macedonian: гусла, Serbian: гусле, ) is a primitive single-stringed musical instrument (and musical style) traditionally used in the Dinarides region of the Balkans (Southeastern Europe).
The instrument is always accompanied by singing; musical folklore, specifically epic poetry. The gusle player (guslar) holds the instrument vertically between his knees, with the left hand fingers on the strings. The strings are never pressed to the neck, giving a harmonic and unique sound.