Lute

Lute is a family of stringed instruments typically having a pear-shaped body, a rounded back, and a decorated sound hole called a Rose. Some specific examples of these instruments are lutes, theorbos, archlutes and others. Although the tunings of the different kinds of lutes vary, similar techniques can be applied to most of them. Lutes are not played with the exactly the same technique that one uses with a modern classical guitar, but some similarities exist nonetheless.

History

 The Lute is an instrument dating back to the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods.  The Lute was aspired
from the Arabic Oud which it gets both its structure and tunings from. Its evolution primarily was the additions of
bass accompaniment and slight tone difference varying between 415 Hz and 424 Hz. During this past century, the
Lute has made a comeback with traditional music bringing old composers' (some very well known) music with it
including very well known musicians like John Dowland, Thomas Campion, Wiess, Bach, and even Vivaldi.

Holding the Lute

The Lute is held with the lower pitches on the top closer to the player's face and with the rounded
back against the chest. It is tricky at first to balance the lute because of the shape. My advice is
to put the deepest point of the rounded back (the back's parabolic point, approximately at the center 
of the instrument.) The hand should be approximately parallel with the strings and the left hand

should be relaxed with the thumb on the back and the other fingers in the front by the strings.

Playing the Lute

  Learn how to play the types of Lute, including the Soprano Lute, Alto Lute, Tenor Lute, Bass Lute, and others

Lutes: Lesson 1 The Intro

Playing Theorbo, Archlute, Baroque Lute, and other bass Lutes

Learn to play the big Bass Lutes such as the Archlute, Theorbo, as well as other Lutes similar to 
these instruments.

Questions? Comments?

  If you have a question about anything in these lessons or do not understand some of this material in
these lessons please feel free to contact me, Pomerane