Renaissance Lute
Traditional Renaissance Lute. Different kinds have 7, 8, 10, 11, 13
courses respectively 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 strings. Of course, these
are only the main kinds. In reality there is a lot of different variations.
The information of tuning, technique and others you will find on the
site pages:
and ,
and many others Links >>>
Baroque Lute
Baroque lutes appeared as a result of experiments with the tuning
approximately 1600 at the base of already popular Renaissance lute.
The Connoisseur of this instrument was Silvius Leopold Weiss. His
music is also the endpoint of the centuries-old lute tradition where
it was described as the noblest from all instruments. Information
of tuning, theory, technique and others:
Links >>>
Theorbo, Chitarrone
Lute family was continually developing Italian connoisseurs considered
that the usual Renaissance lute hasn't sufficient basses that's why
Theorbo was devised, which had bass strings. It was much disputed
but Chitarrone is the same Theorbo only with another tuning. For tuning,
theory, technique, history and others look others
here >>>
Wandervogel Lute
The instrument that looks like Renaissance lute but has 6 strings
as a guitar. The instrument was much discussed. But one is clear,
that this instrument was very popular from the middle of the IX century
till the beginning of our century. More detailed site page:
and
Bandora
One of the oldest instruments from the lute family. There are keeped
very little of these instruments and there are very little performers.
That's why a very scant information. But modern performers keep the
traditions and have a comprehensive information. Some of them are: •
Lute
cantabile
it is the tool of the Italian origin of last quarter of XIX century
mandolin groups. It has five pairs metal strings with quint tuning,
as at the Milan mandoline. The sound is taken by mediator. Special
interest represents pear-shaped lower sounding board, typed of 37
narrow, slightly concave rosewood plates.
Orpharion
Orpharion is practically the same as Bandora. The main difference
is the string number and the tuning.
Mandolin
The instrument remindering the lute but of smaller dimensions. It
comes from the south countries of Europe. Widely distributed is the
Naples Mandolin with 4 courses, formed in unison and having violin
pith. Milan Mandolin has 5 courses. In contrast to the other lute
instruments mandolin is played with the mediator by tremolo. The modern
mandolin has metal strings.
The Oud (Ud)
The oud (or ud) is one of the most popular instruments in Middle Eastern
music.The European lute is a descendant of the oud, from which it
takes its name (al-oud). In Greece it is known as the OUTI and in
Iran as the BARBAT. The most common string combination is five pairs
of strings tuned in unison and a single bass string, although up to
thirteen strings may be found. In more details look
Torban, Bandura, Kobza
The most mysterious and, at the same time, surprising family and history
of the Ukrainian early musical instruments. You
will find the most exhaustive information on these tools on pages
of site of Roman Turovsky
Renaissance
Cittern
During the 16-th century Cittern was the second popular instrument
after the lute. The simplest Cittern form bad 4 courses, each had
2 or 3 strings. The
strings in each course were tuned in unison with the added octave
in some courses. Cittern had many tunings and forms and was often
repeatedly tuned from one piece to another. More:
Vihuela (Biguela)
Vihuela - from Spanish guitar. This antique instrument besides of
solo was used in accompaniment. The accompaniment was recorded as
in our day's guitar parts in jazz and variety music in kind of letters.
It is played by fingers and by the mediator. In more details look
on Alexander Batov's site
Baroque Guitar
The name of the instrument speaks for itself. Of course, just this
instrument was the transitional model between the lute and the modern
classic guitar. But the contribution of this instrument into the world
culture is so large that the word "transitional" falls away.
In more detail look here:
and
Classical guitar
Guitar is the stringed instrument played by plucking of the lute family.
At the and of the XVIII-th century the guitar looks like the modern
appearance: the sixth string is added (E), doulled strings are changed
to single strings. From this time the six-stringed guitar begins its
triumphal procession through the world countries. More
>>>
You
will find the most exhaustive information on these tools on pages
of site of Roman Turovsky 
The
strings in each course were tuned in unison with the added octave
in some courses. Cittern had many tunings and forms and was often
repeatedly tuned from one piece to another. More: 
