Lute
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The lute is a fretted instrument of Arabic origin that achieved immense popularity in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The instrument
The defining features of a lute are its pear shaped back and its peg box bent back at ninety degrees from the neck. The frets were created by tying lengths of gut around the neck. Most later lutes had a single sound hole, but these were ornately carved and called a rose.
History
The lute was descended from the Arabic instrument called the ud or al'ud.
Playing Styles
The lute seems to have been a melodic instrument up until the end of the fifteenth century, played with a plectrum.
During the 16th century its polyphonic capabilities were more fully explored, and it became more common to play with the fingers.
