what is a course on a lute

The lute's strings are arranged in courses, of two strings each, though the highest-pitched course usually consists of only a single string, called the chanterelle. In later Baroque lutes two upper courses are single.

Full Answer

What is the 1st course on a lute?

Each single string or pair of strings is called a course. The pair of strings within a course may be tuned to the same pitch (unison), but the pairs in the lower-pitched courses are often tuned an octave apart. The upper courses are normally tuned with the interval of a fourth or third between them, but on instruments with more than six courses, those courses below the first six may be …

What is a lute?

Mar 03, 2016 · The lute’s double strings, or courses, tuned in octaves and unisons on the higher strings, produce a different timbre than the guitar’s thicker, single strings.

Is playing a coursed lute worth the effort?

Don't try to tune a lute strung in G into an 'A' tuning or the strings will break! Instead, transpose the whole tuning scheme down, as appropriate to the size of your lute. The letters in the table are given in Scientific pitch notation and are specified for an instrument as if it were tuned at A=440. For Baroque lutes this is not typically the ...

What are the notes on a 6 course lute?

Mediaeval lute music was generally played with a plectrum, on an instrument with five ‘courses’ or pairs of strings. For most of the sixteenth century a lute with six courses, in a tuning close to that of the modern guitar, was used.

How many courses can a lute have?

What is a 6 course lute?

What is a 7 course lute?

What is a 13 course lute?

Is a lute worth it?

Do lutes have frets?

What is the tuning for a lute?

Who invented the Renaissance guitar?

Who defined the lute?

Curt Sachs defined the word lute in the terminology section of The History of Musical Instruments as "composed of a body, and of a neck which serves both as a handle and as a means of stretching the strings beyond the body".

How does the lute work?

The lute is plucked or strummed with one hand while the other hand "frets" (presses down) the strings on the neck's fingerboard. By pressing the strings on different places of the fingerboard, the player can shorten or lengthen the part of the string that is vibrating, thus producing higher or lower pitches (notes).

What is the sound of a lute?

As a small instrument, the lute produces a relatively quiet sound . The player of a lute is called a lutenist, lutanist or lutist, and a maker of lutes (or any similar string instrument, or violin family instruments) is referred to as a luthier .

How many strings are in a lute?

They produce a bass that differs somewhat in timbre from nylon basses. The lute's strings are arranged in courses, of two strings each, though the highest-pitched course usually consists of only a single string, called the chanterelle. In later Baroque lutes two upper courses are single.

What is the lute instrument?

The lute player either improvises ("realizes") a chordal accompaniment based on the figured bass part, or plays a written-out accompaniment (both music notation and tablature ("tab") are used for lute). As a small instrument, the lute produces a relatively quiet sound.

How many different lute sizes were there?

There were several sizes, and by the end of the Renaissance, seven different sizes (up to the great octave bass) are documented. Song accompaniment was probably the lute's primary function in the Middle Ages, but very little music securely attributable to the lute survives from the era before 1500.

What instruments were used in the Renaissance?

The lute is used in a great variety of instrumental music from the Medieval to the late Baroque eras and was the most important instrument for secular music in the Renaissance. During the Baroque music era, the lute was used as one of the instruments which played the basso continuo accompaniment parts.

What is the lute?

The lute is a classical and historical musical instrument that is still being constructed and played today. Unlike a guitar, the lute has “courses,” or sets of two strings, which give it a more lyrical and expansive sound.

What are the notes on a 6 course lute?

From left to right, the base notes of the courses on a 6-course lute are: G, C, f, a, d, g.

How to label a lute fret?

Memorize the letters that go with each fret line. Use the alphabet to label each fret, working from the top of the lute neck to the bottom. Identify the topmost fret as “B,” then continue working your way down. Keep in mind that there’s no “C” label in lute sheet music—instead, the uppercase form of the Greek letter gamma is used (Γ), which also looks like a lowercase “r.” The frets continue as follows: D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N.

What is the most well known style of lute sheet music?

French tablature is one of the most well-known styles used in lute sheet music, and uses the Latin and Greek alphabet to label the notes and frets.

How to find the chanterelle on a lute?

Check the bottom of the lute to find the course, chanterelle, and tie block. Examine the thick, rounded portion of the instrument, where the lute’s sound comes from. Find a series of at least 6 courses (12 strings), then look to the right to find a single string, otherwise known as a chanterelle.

How to find the pegbox on a lute?

Examine the neck to find the pegbox, pegs, and frets. Hold your lute carefully or lay it down on a flat surface to take a closer look at its parts. Look at the long, thin neck sticking out at the top of the instrument, with a large, diagonal wooden piece sticking out behind the lute.

What is tablature on lute?

Since the lute has such an extensive history, there are several different versions of the music and chords, otherwise known as tablatures, displayed in the sheet music. Italian tablature uses numbers to tell you which notes to play. German tablature presents the notes in a grid-like format.

What is the 7th course on a lute?

In many 7 course pieces, the 7th course (usually low D or F) is used frequently as both an open string AND as a fretted string. Composers writing for the 7 course lute will voice chords and jump between the 6th and 7th courses in a way that takes advantage of the fact that they are adjacent strings.

What notes are needed for a 9 course lute?

9 course lute - All of above plus songs needing a low E/Eb or C (or any three of the notes F, E/Eb, D or C)- 7 course repertoire can be even more complicated to play due to bass string jumps. Common Tuning: GDAFCG + (F, Eb, & D) or (F, D, C) Diapasons

What is the 11-13 course?

11 -13 course - Usually refers to theorboed lutes specifically in D-minor tuning. These instruments are suited to much of the early Scottish manuscripts , Weiss, and later baroque composers such as Bach. (Note: Instruments tuned in D-minor can’t play the renaissance G lute repertoire without significant retuning or re-ordering of almost all of the strings.) FDAFDA + (G,F,E,D,C,B,A) Diapasons.

How many strings are in a lute?

Throughout the early-to mid-16th century, lutes were most commonly strung with 5 courses and a single treble string. This is explained as early as 1511 by Sebastien Virdung in Musica Getutscht:#N#I advise, therefore, that you take up a lute with eleven strings, [a type] that is found almost everywhere....First you must know that the eleven strings are distributed among six courses, always two strings for each course, with the sole exception of the sixth course which normally has only a single string” [1]

Why did the Renaissance lute have more strings?

The six-course lute didn’t offer the harmonic flexibility needed to perform fugues or continuo, so gradually more and more strings were (quite literally) added to Renaissance lutes. Much to the dismay of historians, many 6 course Renaissance lutes were ‘cannabilised’ in the 17th century, fitted with extension pieces and new peg boxes to hold more strings.

Why did the lute go extinct?

These hindrances, along with the rising popularity of violins and keyboards, pushed the lute almost to extinction.[21]

What is a diapason on a lute?

Diapason refers to a bass string below the normal 6 course register. You should be able to fret these strings down to a low C (depending on the lute) but at least down to a low D or 9th course on a 10 course lute and certainly all the Diapasons on a 7, 8 or 9 course lute.

Where did the lute come from?

The lute is a descendent of the oud, which was most likely brought to Western Europe by the Moors in the 9th century, when they occupied Spain. While the Spanish would seem a likely conduit for the instrument to enter the rest of Europe, they generally rejected the instrument, and the oud instead traveled with merchants through Sicily ...

When did the lute start playing?

First came Francesco Spinacino in 1507, and then Joan Ambrosio Dalza in 1508. What becomes quickly apparent from these early publications is the high level of lute playing that is present so soon after the development of a polyphonic technique. The lute then exploded in the 16th century.

What was the role of the lute in the 16th century?

Courts like those of Henry VIII, Francois I and the Pope in Rome hired lutenists as personal musicians and as means of cultural competition, pitting lute players against each other in contests that often impacted a ruler’s status amongst his peers. The highest-level lute players were paid in amounts comparable to modern NBA stars. Alberto da Ripa of Mantua, for example, was hired by the French court of Francois I, as the royal lutenist. In addition to earning the second-highest salary at court (of everyone, not just musicians!), he was given land and yearly stipends of food and alcohol. Intense competitions for these lucrative jobs produced musicians of unbelievable capability.

What are lute strings made of?

The strings of lutes today are also generally either made of animal gut, nylgut (a synthetic gut), or nylon, while the classical guitar generally uses only nylon strings (wound and unwound). Depending on the type of the lute strings, the sound can be crisper and brighter than the modern guitar. The most obvious difference between the lute and ...

What is an Oud instrument?

The oud is a fretless melodic instrument, double-strung in courses, that is perfectly suited to the subtle tunings, systems and scales of the Middle East. In order to better integrate the instrument into Western European music, a few changes were made; adding frets was the first of these changes. Because Western European music was ...

When did the lute become a melodic instrument?

Despite the obvious harmonic implications that frets allow, the lute remained largely a melodic instrument until the beginning of the 16th century. Like oud players, the new European lute players continued to play the instrument with a plectrum or a bird quill.

What is the fretting hand on a lute?

The fretting hand seems to have been very similar to modern technique. Depending on the size of the instrument, the thumb of the fretting hand could hang over the neck and even fret notes when needed, or if the instrument was too large, the thumb remained relaxed behind the neck. The end of the 15th century marked an amazing change for the lute, ...

What is the pitch of a baroque lute?

The letters in the table are given in Scientific pitch notation and are specified for an instrument as if it were tuned at A=440. For Baroque lutes this is not typically the case, but still with your pitch set to A=415 or otherwise, the pitch names are still the same.

Who made the table for the lute?

The following table is provided as an aid for students of the lute and is based on a table originally assembled by Matthew Leigh Embleton. Any corrections or additions are welcomed and can be sent to the webmaster.

Can you transpose a lute in G?

Please note that this list it is not entirely comprehensive, as there were so very many experimental and variant tunings. Lutes in other keys would transpose the whole scheme as necessary. Don't try to tune a lute strung in G into an 'A' tuning or the strings will break! Instead, transpose the whole tuning scheme down, as appropriate to the size of your lute.

How many courses does the lute have?

Many people taking up the lute begin with a seven-course renaissance instrument. Not only is there much excellent music specifically for this instrument, but being similar in sound to a six-course instrument, it is suitable for playing the entire sixteenth century repertoire.

What is the lute capable of?

The instrument is capable of producing the most beautiful sounds, and has a vast repertoire of music, which it would take a lifetime to explore fully. This repertoire includes not only solo music, but a substantial body of songs, duets, and consort pieces, and so the lute offers opportunities for social as well as solo playing.

What are some good books on lute?

Relevant articles also appear from time to time in The Galpin Society Journal, Recercare, Chelys, Early Music,The Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments, also JAMS, ML, etc. Two good recent books are Douglas Alton Smith, A History of the Lute from Antiquity to the Renaissance (Lute Society of America, 2002) and Matthew Spring, The Lute in Britain, A History of the Instrument and its Music (Oxford University Press, 2001). The best way to put a specific question to a large number of people nowadays is to post it to the lute discussion groups on the internet.

How many pages are there in Stefan Lundgren's Baroque Lute Companion?

Miguel Yisrael, Method for the Baroque Lute (Ut Orpheus Edizioni) very extensive at 356 pages. Ut Orpheus Edizioni have also published a tutor for theorbo.

What is the pitch of a lute?

Lutes were and are made in different keys; the most common renaissance lute today is an instrument tuned in G, at modern pitch (A=440Hz) with a string length of around 60cm. Some singers may welcome an instrument tuned a little lower, perhaps in F, and if you want to play with baroque instrumentalists you will need an instrument tuned in F# (A=415Hz); while those with small hands might find a lute tuned in A less of a stretch for certain areas of the repertoire, but a lute in G is generally to be recommended, not least for the purposes of playing duets with other lutenists, playing lute songs at written pitch, and renaissance consort playing. Again, if in doubt, ask a teacher.

What is the tuning scheme of a Baroque lute?

As the seventeenth century progressed yet more strings were added, and different tuning schemes were tried; a popular configuration of ‘Baroque’ lute was an instrument of eleven, twelve or thirteen courses, with a tuning scheme based on a D minor arpeggio. The high points of composition for these later instruments were were attained in the works of the seventeenth-century French composers Mouton, de Visée, Dufaut, Gallot and the Gaultiers, and eighteenth-century German composers, including Weiss, Bach, Hagen and Falkenhagen.

Is it worth listening to lute music?

If you are not familiar with the full range of the lute repertoire, it is worth listening to CD recordings of lute music music of different eras. Lute News gives quarterly listings and reviews of new lute CDs. Early Music Review (tel: 01480 452076) includes some lute CD reviews. The Lute Society also publishes a leaflet of ‘Recommended listening’, which gives results of a Lute Society survey of members’ all-time favourite recordings.

John Dowland: Lady Rich Galliard

This is piece no.18 from the Lute Society’s ‘114 Early to Intermediate Pieces for Renaissance Lute’, a fascinating anthology which includes the complete contents of a 1603 manuscript now in Dresden.

Right hand

The first challenge is bringing out the beautiful melody smoothly, especially as many melody notes will fall to the weak ring finger.

Left hand

There are a few rather scary shifts, such as the middle note of bar 6. Shifts need to be managed by the whole arm, guided by your thumb on the back of the neck.

What finger takes every offbeat note?

The right hand fingering simply alternates thumb and index throughout; the thumb takes the first note and every subsequent note on a beat; the index finger takes every off-beat note.

Which hand do you use for a guitar?

Left Hand. In the left hand , you may use the 1st and 2nd fingers or the 2nd and 3rd fingers throughout the first 5 bars. If you choose the slightly easier option of 1st and 2nd, you must shift your 1st finger back to the 1st fret in bar 6, and remain in that position for the rest of the piece.

When was lesson 1 of our beginners lesson?

Lesson 1 of our beginners lessons, by Lynda Sayce, August 2009

How to play a thumb note on a soundboard?

One needs a very relaxed right arm, a relaxed hand lying directly along the plane of the strings (rather than diagonally across it, as some later techniques require), and the right hand little finger resting on the soundboard and acting as a pivot for the technique. The plucking movement is steered by the whole arm; resist the urge to 'pick' with the fingers. For thumb strokes, let gravity take the weight of the arm, and the thumb will drop through a course quickly and cleanly, impelled by the weight of the arm rather than a twitching of the end joint. On the return journey the index finger is again carried through the course by the upward movement of the arm. Play slowly but regularly, and gradually increase the speed. It may be helpful to think of the thumb and index finger as the two faces of a large, soft plectrum, and to think of each course as a narrow tape rather than two individual strings. Don't be afraid of string contact. Aim to put a large slice of thumb or finger in the middle of the tape, and you should catch both strings simultaneously. The small joints of the thumb and fingers do not need to move at all, though they will be displaced a little by the tension of the strings. The whole technique uses a relatively tiny movement of a relatively large unit, and is therefore fast and efficient. The thumb notes should be audibly stronger than the index notes, because they have the weight of the arm behind them. Think 'doo-by-doo-by-doo' but DON'T swing the rhythm! Keep the line as smooth as possible; lift left-hand fingers at the last possible moment, and when you cross to a higher open course, aim to lift the finger stopping the previous note at the same time as you pluck the open string.

Overview

Construction

History and evolution of the lute

Etymology

Lute in the modern world

Repertoire

20th century revival and composers

Tuning conventions

A. Types of Lute

• Throughout the early-to mid-16th century, lutes were most commonly strung with 5 courses and a single treble string. This is explained as early as 1511 by Sebastien Virdung in Musica Getutscht: I advise, therefore, that you take up a lute with eleven strings, [a type] that is found almost everywhere....First you must know that the eleven strings ar...

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B. Strings

C. Frets and Temperament

D. Modern Lutes