Apple Using the GarageBand Jam Pack: World Music Instruments - Manual (Page 9)

9
Medieval Lute
The European lute evolved from ancient Middle Eastern stringed instruments, and was
widely used during the Medieval and Renaissance periods to accompany singers and as
a solo instrument. The word
lute derives from the same root as oud, an Arabic word
meaning “wood.”
The lute is a plucked stringed instrument with a deep, pear-shaped body and a flat top.
The top features a soundhole that is typically intricately carved in the shape of a knot
or vine. The neck is made of light wood, and necks became wider as the lute developed
to accommodate a greater number of strings. The strings are typically doubled, with
each pair tuned in unison. The upper strings could be tuned in fourths, similar to a
guitar, or could be tuned to the notes of a chord (for example, D-A-D-F). The lower
courses were tuned in steps, allowing the player to play bass lines without having to
fret each note.
The lute was originally played using a quill to pluck the strings. As European music
became more polyphonic, players began to perform using their fingers, allowing
greater freedom for playing counterpoint.