The samica is a small stringed and fretted traditional Croatia

Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...

n folk instrument. Its overall shape is similar to that of the dangubica

Dangubica

The dangubica is a small Serbian and Croatian stringed instrument, having either two single or two double strings, a long, fretted neck, and a pear-shaped body. One string is used to play the melody, while the second plays a continuous note, known as the drone...

, and has up to four strings. One of these strings is used to play a melody, the rest being used as drones

Drone (music)

In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. The word drone is also used to refer to any part of a musical instrument that is just used to produce such an effect.-A musical effect:A drone...

, playing a single note. The samica is often played to accompany dancing and singing. Along with the dangubica, the samica is one of the forerunners of the modern tamburitza

Tamburitza

Tamburica or Tamboura refers to any member of a family of long-necked lutes popular in Eastern and Southern Europe, particularly Croatia , Serbia and Hungary. It is also known in southern Slovenia and Burgenland...

.