Lute
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The Lute is a plucked stringed instrument which originated from the Arabic 'ud. It was one of the most important instruments in European music during the 16th and 17th centuries. The silvery, shimmering sound of the lute was used for solo playing and accompanying songs, as well as in small ensembles, or consorts.
| Family |
| Strings |
| Pitch range |
| About three octaves. |
| Material |
| Wooden body, gut (later wirewound) strings, and gut frets. |
| Size |
| 30 in (76 cm) long. |
| Origins |
| The European lute developed in the 13th century from the Arabic 'ud, which had been known in Persia from the 6th century onwards. The 'ud originated in Central Asia, a century or two earlier. |
| Classification |
| Chordophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of strings. |
| And also... |
| Lute music was written using a system known as tablature, by which the place to put your fingers was indicated by letters or numbers. |
