Lute guitars are an ancient type of stringed instrument that resembles modern acoustic guitars in appearance and sound. They’ve existed since antiquity, with the earliest form, known as an ud, hailing from the Middle East and North Africa. Lute guitars grew in popularity even more during the European Renaissance in the 1500s, when several innovations were made to expand the instrument’s musical capabilities. Despite the fact that these instruments became extinct over time, renewed interest has led to the creation of modern lute guitars.
Unlike an acoustic guitar, which has a kidney-shaped body and a flat back, lute guitars have pear-shaped bodies and rounded backs. Lutes are also smaller than other guitars in general. A lute’s number of strings can be more or less than an acoustic guitar’s, and they can be arranged into two-course groups. The construction of strings on guitar lutes has evolved over time in order to broaden the instrument’s musical range. The earliest lutes, known as uds, were four-course instruments with a single chanterelle string at the top. The number of courses and the overall length of the instruments grew over time.
Lute guitars were one of the most popular instruments during the European Renaissance. During this time, a lot of music was written for them, and a lot of it is still around today. Some arrangements were written for a single lute to accompany a singer, while others were written for groups of two, three, or four instruments to perform. During this time, lute guitars underwent a number of changes. The number of courses grew, and the technology used to make the strings evolved and improved. The body’s shape was also rounded in comparison to previous versions.
Lute guitars were virtually extinct by the year 1700. The reasons for the decline in popularity are unknown, but they could be linked to the rise of larger orchestras featuring louder instruments, such as the harpsichord. The lute, as well as Baroque music and Renaissance culture, reawakened interest in the early nineteenth century. Due to the scarcity of ancient instruments, collectors pieced together as much information as they could through paintings and drawings, as well as using the music to provide clues about proper construction. Modern instruments are now made in small batches and are usually made to order for individual customers.