7 best lutes
Lutes are a family of stringed musical instruments that have been played for centuries in various cultures around the world. They are characterized by a soundbox, a neck, and strings that run parallel to the neck and are plucked or strummed to produce sound. Lutes come in various shapes and sizes, and their designs have evolved over time, resulting in a rich diversity of instruments.
Here are some key points about lutes:
Historical Significance: Lutes have a long history and have been played in different forms across many cultures. They can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, and variations of the instrument have been found in archaeological excavations from various periods and regions.
Variety of Lutes: There are many types of lutes, including but not limited to:
- The Western Lute: Often referred to as the "classical" or "European" lute, it was prominent during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.It has a rounded back and a fretted neck.
- Oud: A Middle Eastern lute with a pear-shaped body and no frets. It is widely used in Arabic and Persian music.
- Sitar: An Indian lute with a long neck and a gourd-shaped body. It's a central instrument in classical Indian music.
- Pipa: A Chinese lute with a distinctive pear-shaped body and a varying number of frets. It's used in traditional Chinese music.
- Balalaika: A Russian lute with a triangular body, often associated with folk music in Russia.
Playing Technique: Lutes are typically plucked or strummed with the fingers or with a plectrum, depending on the style and tradition of the music.
Repertoire: Lutes have been used to play a wide range of music, from classical compositions to folk tunes, and they often have a prominent role in traditional and folk music from different cultures.
Evolution: Lute design has evolved over time, influenced by changes in musical styles, cultural interactions, and technological advancements. This has led to variations in the number of strings, the shape of the instrument, and the materials used.
Tuning: The tuning of lutes varies widely among different types and traditions. Some lutes have frets, while others, like the oud, do not, allowing for a wide range of microtonal expression.
Lutes continue to be important instruments in various musical traditions, and their unique sound and cultural significance make them a fascinating subject for both musicians and music enthusiasts.
Below you can find our editor's choice of the best lutes on the market
7-Course Travel Lute, Rosewood
Roosebeck
Product description
The Sheesham travel lute has a body made of eleven solid rosewood staves, a sheesham neck and sheesham fingerboard. The peg box is solid Sheesham attached at an angle of 135 degrees to reduce the depth of the instrument. The tuning pegs and end pin are Sheesham. The soundboard is made out of European spruce. There are eight nylon frets and four Sheesham frets. The recommended tuning is G2 G3 A2 A3 D3 D4 G3 G3 B3 B3 E4 E4 A4 (Gg Aa dd' gg bb e'e' a'). A nylon gig bag is included.
Features:
Soundboard Bracing: Spruce
Nut: Sheesham
Tuning Pegs: Sheesham
Scale Length: 572mm
Overall dimensions: 800mm length, 230mm width, and 152mm depth
Nut Width: 190mm
Weight: Approximately Without Gig Bag: 1.75 pounds
Weight: Approximately With Gig Bag: 3 pounds
Shipped insured
Brand new
- Neck: Sheesham; Fingerboard: Sheesham; Peg Box: Sheesham; Bridge: Sheesham; Soundboard: Spruce
- Soundboard Bracing: Spruce; Nut: Sheesham; Tuning Pegs: Sheesham
- Scale Length: 572mm
- Overall dimensions: 800mm length, 230mm width, and 152mm depth
- Nut Width: 190mm
User questions & answers
| Question: | Does it come with a case |
| Answer: | Hi! Thanks for your question about an item offered by Bwaaack! on Amazon: Yes. a padded gig bag. Roosebeck 32.5 Inch Travel Lute 7 Course & Padded Gig Bag. Padded Gig Bag Included. 13 Strings. The sheesham travel lute has a body made of eleven solid sheesham staves, a sheesham neck and sheesham fingerboard. The peg box is solid sheesham attached at an angle of 135 degrees to reduce the depth of the instrument. The tuning pegs and end pin are sheesham. The soundboard is made out of European spruce. There are eight nylon frets and four sheesham frets. The recommended tuning is G2 G3 A2 A3 D3 D4 G3 G3 B3 B3 E4 E4 A4 (Gg Aa dd' gg bb e'e' a'). A padded gig bag is included. Materials: Neck: Sheesham Fingerboard: Sheesham Peg Box: Sheesham Bridge: Sheesham Soundboard: Spruce Soundboard Bracing: Spruce Nut: Sheesham < Tuning Pegs: Sheesham Dimensions: Scale Length: 572mm Overall dimensions: 32.5 inches in length, 6 inches in height, and 9 inches in width Nut Width: 190mm Weight: Approximately Without Gig Bag: 0.79 kg or 1.75 pounds. Weight: Approximately With Gig Bag: 1.36 kg or 3 pounds We appreciate the opportunity to provide more information about the items we offer and hope you'll BUY from us. Our prices are FACTORY DIRECT and competitive, but If you find a better price on the same exact item on Amazon - please let us know and we'll try to get you the same or a BETTER DEAL. Please let us know if you have any additional questions? We're here to help. Your friends at Bwaaack! on Amazon. |
| Question: | how does it sound |
| Answer: | Sounds pretty good for a travel lute. Touch is light and instrument is responsive. |
XingHai Hardwood Chinese Lute Traditional National Stringed Instrument Peony Bones Carving PiPa for Children
Product description
XingHai is one of the most famous Chinese Pipa brand in China. It is famous for its stable quality, exquisite carving and beautiful sound.
The head of the pipa is a beautiful white flower carved of bone. Xinghai logo on the back of head. Great workmanship from experienced pipa craftsman. The flower won't get yellow or crack easily.
The body of the pipa is made of hardwood that is natually dried in air. Tight structure contributes to stable tones. Upper-class painting gives it ancient beauty and comfortable feeling at touch.
High end strings perfectly assembled. Beautiful and stable, won't go out of tone. Volume is clear and loud, featuring a blend of delicacy and force.
Selected fabric pipa bag as FREE gift. Perfect for storing and carrying of pipa. Pipas are high-value musical instruments. Please buy it only when you are serious. Thanks!
Item Specifics:
- Xinghai is one of the most famous Chinese Pipa brand in China. It is famous for its stable quality, exquisite carving and beautiful sound.
- The head of the pipa is a beautiful white flower carved of bone. Xinghai logo on the back of head. Great workmanship from experienced pipa craftsman. The flower won't get yellow or crack easily.
- The body of the pipa is made of hardwood that is natually dried in air. Tight structure contributes to stable tones. Upper-class painting gives it ancient beauty and comfortable feeling at touch.
- High end strings perfectly assembled. Beautiful, stable and balanced, won't go out of tone. Volume is clear and loud, featuring a blend of delicacy and force. The string bridge passed through strong tension test.
- Selected fabric pipa bag as FREE gift. Perfect for storing and carrying of pipa. Pipas are high-value musical instruments. Please buy it only when you are serious. Thanks!
User questions & answers
| Question: | Is there a difference between the children and the adult one |
| Answer: | Hi there. Yes the difference is that the children’s is a bit shorter. But is a very high quality also. My wife wanted the adult size. Enjoy as we did ours. |
| Question: | The body of Pipa, what kind hardwood, is Rosewood or not |
| Answer: | Dear customer, the wood is Paulownia wood. Hope this helps you! Thanks! |
| Question: | Could you specify what’s included in the purchase please |
| Answer: | Dear customer, in addtion to the Pipa itself, there is the pipa bag, a set of nails and a wipe cloth. Hope you like it! |
| Question: | Does it come with string |
| Answer: | Dear customer, Yes there are strings already assembled. Welcome to purchase! |
Kalimba Thumb Piano 17 Keys, Portable Mbira Finger Piano Gifts for Kids and Adults Beginners
Newlam
Product description
The African-Tuned Kalimba thumb piano
The African-tuned kalimba has a wide and deep repertoire of music from across the vast Zambezi Valley and is thought to be closely related to the original mbira tuning from 1300 years ago.
Newlam kalimbas are made by the best material! This truly ancient instrument, its inherent musical logic, and a large repertoire of traditional African songs are open to you. Do you dare to enter through this door?
How To Play African Kalimba?
Every kalimba that we sell will come tuned to a specific tuning. Every kalimba that we sell is a real musical instrument. The tone is the same as a piano which is International C tune.
We give you the resources you need to succeed with your kalimba. Contact us as below.
Orders—Find your order—Get help with order(Problem with order—Other issue)—contact seller
Kalimba Package Includes:
1*17 Keys Kalimba
1*Tuning Hammer
1*Flannelette Bag
2*Finger Covers
1*Cleaning Cloth
1*Instruction Book
1* Thumb Piano Key Color Stickers
- ♫ Rigorous Raw Materials Selection: 17 keys Kalimba thumb piano is handcrafted with high-quality material and ore steel bars. Natural air-dried wood provides ethereal timbre, which is a wonderful match with the natural wood grain.
- ♫ Embossed Notes & Hand-rest Curve Design: The keys are embossed with letters and notes, different from other stickers notes finger piano. Hand-rest Curve Design is to the correct angle ergonomically.
- ♫ Easy To Play: 5 minutes to learn a song. After you placed your order, you will receive the play guidance and tips to play a song easily in 5 minutes. Suitable for beginners, kids, and professionals.
- ♫ Product Includes: thumb piano, tune hammer, instruction book, stickers, flannelette bag, cleaning fabric. Contact us to get an additional electronic songbook for free!
- ♫ GUARANTEE & WARRANTY: 60 days warranty, 60 days unconditional return guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the musical instruments, please feel free to contact us at any time.
User questions & answers
| Question: | Outer 6 keys (3 on each side, C to E) are very muted- are they supposed to be this way, or is it something I can fix |
| Answer: | Please contact us seller and we will help you fix this problem. Thank you! Orders—Find your order—Get help with order(Problem with order—Other issue)—contact seller |
| Question: | Does it come pre-tuned? (At least close |
| Answer: | Mine came tuned and ready to play 🙂 I had been mentally practicing a song the week before I bought it and when it came in, I played and the notes where all tuned nice ☺️ |
| Question: | Does this kalimba comes with a carrying case with a separate compartment for the tuning hammer of some sort |
| Answer: | Yes. It comes with a soft bag for the kalimba itself, which goes inside a larger stiff shoulder bag with a zipper pouch for the accessories including the tuning hammer. |
| Question: | How to tune the 17 keys kalimba |
| Answer: | The instrument comes with a little hammer where you can tap the individual metal tines up and down to adjust the pitch. You can check the notes with a electronic tuner or a tuner app on your phone. Detailed instructions come with the kalimba. |
Product features
Speaking to the deep inner part
Traditional African Kalimba Music is one of the best music. It has pure logic, with a spiritual core. This music is magical, speaking to anyone's deep inner part.
Kalimba thumb piano is one of the most natural instruments. Even though its structure is many centuries old, it sounds fresh and modern.
Play the Kalimba with families and friends
Playing the kalimba is like taking a deep breath and diving to the bottom of a clear and peaceful pool. The diversions and annoyances of the world evaporate.
We like to share this musical journey with another special person. We may want to share the kalimba playing with our lover. A high school student wants to play with her best friend. A grandmother wants to play with her grandchild, or a father wants to play with his child.
Kalimba for elders and kids
The Kalimba is small and easy to hold but has a surprisingly large voice. It's a perfect instrument for elders to keep the brain active, challenging the mind and honing hand-ear-eye coordination.
Kids about 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+ year old and up enjoy kalimba. The 17 keys were polished smooth to protect the young children's soft nails. Bringing one home will be fun, educational and, well, a fascinating conversation piece.
How to tune the kalimba
To keep your kalimba sounding good, learning to tune is the most important thing.
1. Download the tune APP.
IOS: Instuner
Android: gStrings
2. Tune with the hammer.
Making tines longer (from the point where they are held down on the bridge) will lower their pitch, and making them shorter will make their pitch higher.
Lute-Guitar, 6 String, Variegated, Gears
Product description
This instrument has great appeal to guitarists who enjoy playing early folk music and who like the idea of playing an instrument with a look and feel of the old times. The lute-guitar is an attractive instrument of a similar size to the guitar but with a body like a lute. With a neck shaped like that of a guitar and a 51mm nut of ebony, it will appeal to those who are familiar with normal classical or acoustic guitars. It is tuned like a guitar with six strings, three of plain nylon and three of nylon wound in nickel. If it is to be used for lute music, the 3rd string may be tuned a semi-tone down to F# to enable the application of lute fingering. The lute has a long history dating back to pre-biblical times and although it has existed in many forms it may be classified as either short- or long-necked. The European lute and its ancestor, the oud, (or, 'al'ud' meaning 'the wood') are examples of the short-necked variety and were later developments.
Examples of the lute-guitar, or some may call it guitar-lute, were plentiful in Germany towards the end of the 19th century and whilst it may be thought of as a type of guitar due to its stringing, six-course versions of the lute were also known in the Renaissance period. The term 'course' refers to the arrangement of the stringing. A 'course' may contain single, double or even triple strings, thus the guitar has single-string courses whereas the lute would be double strung.
Features:
Nut: bone; Neck at Nut: 2" W; Nut: 2" W
Neck at Body Joint: 2.25" W
Strings at the Nut: 1.75" W
Strings at Bridge: 2.25" W
Scale Length: 26"
Variegated back
Shipped Insured
Brand New!
- Item overall: 41" L x 7" H x 12.5" W
- Body/Bowl: 20" L x 7" H x 12.5" W
- Body: Sheesham & Varigated Lacewood
- Spruce soundboard
- Neck: Mahogany
User questions & answers
| Question: | Does this include a gig bag or case of some form? Or is it just the instrument by itself |
| Answer: | Yes it has a soft case. It's very nice my husband loves it. |
| Question: | does it come with a Bachi |
| Answer: | No I had to buy that separate |
Lute-kulele T, Tenor, Variegated, Pegs
Roosebeck
Product description
Based upon the Renaissance Lute which was prevalent in Europe in the 16th and 17th century, the Lute-kulele is one of the sweetest sounding ukuleles in our collection and is ideally suited for classical and fingerstyle music. This Tenor-sized instrument is based upon a 430mm (17 inches) scale and features six strings. The second (E) and third (C) strings are doubled providing a rich full and balanced tone. It is played like any normal 4-string ukulele. It features a European spruce soundboard with the famous Leonardo Knot rosette which was a favorite of many Renaissance lute makers. The back is made in the traditional manner of lute-making and is made of alternating staves of sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) and lacewood (Platanus orientalus). The neck and pegbox are solid sheesham and features a bone nut with a width of 37mm (1 1/2 inch). This instrument is outfitted with traditional ebony lute pegs. The bridge is also made of sheesham . An end-pin strap button is standard.
Includes:
Shipped insured
Brand New!
- European spruce soundboard
- Played like any normal 4-string ukulele
- Based on the 17" scale & features six strings
- Includes Soft Gig Bag
- Traditional ebony lute pegs
User questions & answers
| Question: | Is the sound hole real or just a painted design |
| Answer: | The sound hole is real, beautifully carved. Overall the instrument is lovely. The tuning is the major problem. You will have to retune every time you play! |
| Question: | Can it be used to strum ordinary ukulele-type songs? Or is it only suited to picking and Classical-style playing |
| Answer: | Strums fine. You can even do resgueado on it! Has a lovely tone for strums. I play Renaissance music on it and use lots of chord strums to fill out the sound. |
| Question: | Is the soft case shown in the fifth picture included with the lute-kulele |
| Answer: | I don't know what picture you're referring to, but my instrument came in a very padded and well designed soft case, which I did not pay extra for. |
Includes: Roosebeck 8-Course Travel Lute W/Padded Gig Bag + Roosebeck 8-Course Lute String Set
Roosebeck
Product description
Kit Includes:
Features:
- Neck: Sheesham
- Fingerboard: Sheesham
- Peg Box: Sheesham
- Bridge: Sheesham
- Soundboard: European Spruce
- Soundboard Bracing: Spruce
- Nut: Sheesham
- Tuning Pegs: Sheesham
- Scale Length: 23.5 inches
- Overall dimensions: 32" length, 9.3" width, and 6.5" depth
- Nut Width: 216mm
- Weight: Approximately Without Gig Bag: 0.79 kg or 1.75 pounds.
- Weight: Approximately With Gig Bag: 1.36 kg or 2 pounds
- Shipped insured
- Brand new
- Roosebeck 8-Course Travel Lute W/ Padded Gig Bag
- Roosebeck 8-Course Lute String Set
User questions & answers
| Question: | does it come with tapes for the finger picks |
| Answer: | It doesn't come with tapes. |
| Question: | What size Lute should an adult use?? I was looking at one that was 28 inches long, is this too small |
| Answer: | This is an adult size. I bought it for my wife and she has been taking lessons with it. Her pipa instructor was surprised that I was able to find a decent one in america. |
| Question: | Is the shipping really |
| Answer: | Where do you want to ship? It's about $40 within the 48 continental states. About $100-$250 internationally. |
| Question: | Does it include carrying case or bag? Does it include finger tape |
| Answer: | This models comes with a carrying bag. It doesn't include tape. |
Roosebeck 7-Course Travel Lute, Sheesham w/Gig Bag + Extra Strings + Tuner
Roosebeck
Product description
Kit Includes:
Features:
- Neck: Sheesham
- Fingerboard: Sheesham
- Peg Box: Sheesham
- Bridge: Sheesham
- Soundboard: European Spruce
- Soundboard Bracing: Spruce
- Nut: Sheesham
- Tuning Pegs: Sheesham
- Scale Length: 572mm
- Overall dimensions: 800mm length, 230mm width, and 152mm depth
- Nut Width: 190mm
- Weight: Approximately Without Gig Bag: 1.75 pounds
- Weight: Approximately With Gig Bag: 3 pounds
- Shipped insured
- Brand new
- Roosebeck 7-Course Travel Lute, Sheesham W/ Gig Bag
- Roosebeck 7-Course Descant Lute String Set
- Snark Clip-On Chromatic Tuner For Guitar, Lute, Oud Dulcimer
User questions & answers
| Question: | How do the lengths of the frets compare to a d-33 grand strumstick? is less finger stretching required to play chords |
| Answer: | Sorry, I'm not familiar with the d-33 strumstick. |
| Question: | What does "string-through" body mean? Doesn't that make it very difficult to put on new strings |
| Answer: | The strings literally string through the instrument, because You put the strings through the body from the back. The string through design makes it very easy to restring the instrument. Manny electric guitars are set up this way. |
| Question: | What does the SG stand for |
| Answer: | SG Stands for Semi Gloss. Thank you, guitarVault team. |
| Question: | What is the scale (neck) length and what is the body length please |
| Answer: | Body Depth 1.13 inches Body Length 14.75 inches Lower Bout 7 inches Nut Width 1.28 inches Scale 20.75 inches Upper Bout 4.88 inches Waist 3.94 inches |
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