Lute

Listen to a Renaissance Lute

A pear shaped instrument of Arabic origin ( stems from 'ud or al'ud) introduced to Europe partly through contact with the Moors in Spain and partly through the interest of returning Crusaders. Throughout Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the lute was the favorite instrument for use in homes, in barbershops and taverns. It had four to thirteen courses (as the double strings where called) tuned a fourth apart with the exception of a third between the third and second course (tuning the guitars third string to f# while leaving the remaining strings as they are will achieve a Renaissance lute tuning).