How is a lute tuned?
The first course of a lute is the string with the highest pitch. Renaissance and Baroque tunings differ. Between these periods, there was a transitional period of experimental tunings. For example, a 6-course Renaissance lute in G would be tuned G-C-F-A-D-G from low to high. By comparison, to take a guitar and place a capo on the third fret, if the guitar’s G string was detuned a half step to F#, this would be the typical Renaissance tuning. Additional Renaissance courses (which can number up to 10 total) are usually tuned in descending order: F-E (or E flat)-D-C. Therefore, a 10-course Renaissance lute (in G) from low to high would be: C-D-E-F-G-C-F-A-D-G Renaissance lutes were made in many shapes and sizes. These instruments had a tuning that was the same relative to one another, although the highest string could be tuned to any number of pitches based on the size and string length of the lute. For example, a very small lute could have the highest string tuned to D, and another could
The first course of a lute is the string with the highest pitch. Renaissance and Baroque tunings differ. Between these periods, there was a transitional period of experimental tunings. For example, a 6-course Renaissance lute in G would be tuned G-C-F-A-D-G from low to high. By comparison, to take a guitar and place a capo on the third fret, if the guitar’s G string was detuned a half step to F#, this would be the typical Renaissance tuning. Additional Renaissance courses (which can number up to 10 total) are usually tuned in descending order: F-E (or E flat)-D-C. Therefore, a 10-course Renaissance lute (in G) from low to high would be: C-D-E-F-G-C-F-A-D-G Renaissance lutes were made in many shapes and sizes. These instruments had a tuning that was the same relative to one another, although the highest string could be tuned to any number of pitches based on the size and string length of the lute. For example, a very small lute could have the highest string tuned to D, and another could
