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Lute LessonsLearn to play the Lute. Lute tutors throughout the UK; more welcome.The Lute is a string musical instrument which has a round back and a neck with optional frets fitted against which the strings are pinched like a guitar. The lute was particularly popular in Europe from the Renaissance to the Baroque Periods. The lute was particularly favoured by minstrels or other travelling musicians who would often use it to accompany their singing. A Lute player can be known as a lutist, lutanist or lutenist and the person who makes lutes is called a luthier. The lute is undoubtedly one of the most melodic of musical instruments and is equally at home as either the provider of the main melody line or as a backing instrument. There are, however, two main drawbacks - firstly it is not an easy instrument to master and secondly a good quality lute is not cheap to buy. With these factors in mind, the 'try before you buy' or 'hire and buy' options which some music shops offer, is definitely well worth considering for the beginner to lute playing. The reason why a lute is such an expensive instrument to buy is that it is hand-made although it does keep its value well and, if a player does realise that the instrument is not for them or if they choose to move on to a better quality lute, then there need not be too large a financial loss if the original lute has been looked after. If you are looking to buy a lute and you are a beginner then it is definitely a good idea to take your lute teacher or lute tutor along with you to the music shop. The cost of the teacher's time is likely to be well worth the expenditure in the long run and it should give you peace of mind with your new purchase. It is particularly important that you choose the right size and type of lute as the wrong choice will handicap considerably your enjoyment of the instrument. The lute is normally played with a plectrum (like a guitar) which is used to pluck or strum the strings and is specified in terms of the number of pairs of strings (courses) that it has. Most lutes are 7-course (14-string) instruments (most commonly chosen by beginners) and these are suitable for the majority of music which is traditionally written for lutes. That said, there are lutes with 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 courses - each best suited to a particular style of music. Your music teacher's advice on which one to buy could prove invaluable again. Your lute should be tuned to match the pitch of what it is accompanying. For example, modern 'renaissance' lutes tend to be tuned to 'G' but 'F' is also a popular choice when backing singers with lower-pitched voices. Baroque music tends to require the lute to be tuned to F-sharp. For younger players or those with small hands, it may even be better to tune the lute to 'A'. Lute lessons are pretty much essential even if you are already an accomplished guitar player (guitarists will find that their knowledge and skills make the transition relatively easily) - even then the right hand techniques will need to be learnt. Although there are a range of excellent books on the market, these skills are best learnt from personal tuition and not from the written page. There is also plenty of good lute music available but don't be over-ambitious. Like any instrument, the novice lute player should begin with easy-to-play type pieces and progress under the guidance of their music tutor. So, before you go out and buy your lute, the first thing to do is to find a good lute tutor and sign up for some lessons in how to choose and play your lute. Other Instruments Click this link to find prices for Lute lessons. Look for information on another musical instrument. Search in our directory for a Lute tutor. Go to this link to become a Lute teacher.
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