Lute tunning

Subject: Lute tunning
From: Pete
Date: 26 Feb 99 - 05:47 PM

I have a 13 course Lute (6 double & 1 single) How is it tuned?? Also anyone know the chord shapes? My father made the instrument and I havent go roung to learning to play it.

Pete

Subject: RE: Lute tunning
From: Scotty Rotten
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 12:04 PM

Sounds like you've got your hands full with that one! tuning (from highest sounding string) is: f (like 6th string 1st fret on guitar) d (like 5th string 3rd fret on guitar) a (4th string 2nd fret etc..) F (3rd string 3rd fret) D (open 3rd) A (open 2nd) top 7 bass strings vary but often are: G...F...Eb...D...C...Bb...A... so the whole thing is f..d..a..F..D..A..G..F..Eb..D..C..Bb..A (a descending scale from here^) Hope this helps and good luck! Scotty If you ever want to sell it please let me know!!I've been in the baroque lute market for a [e-mail] if you have any problems.See Ya'.

Subject: RE: Lute tunning
From: Scotty Rotten
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 12:11 PM

PETE!!!Disregard the "descending scale from here ^" in my first response!!The message I wrote and the message up there look a whole lot different than I thought it would (it got scrunched up),Scotty

Subject: RE: Lute tunning
From:
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 08:00 PM

There is an older, pre-baroque, tuning which is, starting from the bass and going up:

G as in the 3rd fret of the bass E guitar string. The other one in the pair is tuned an octave higher
C (a fourth above the above). The other in the pair is an octave higher
F and the other one in the pair an octave higher
A and the other one is at the same pitch
D and the other one is at the same pitch
G and the other one is at the same pitch

The seventh string (or pair) is/are tuned either a note below or a fourth below the low G.

This was used (I think) into the 16th century; but changed before Weiss.

You might also try the newsgroup

rec.music.guitar.classical.guitar

and

rec.music.makers.builders

The former has some lutenists hanging around on it, and I have gotten some questions answered about tuning there.

Murray

Subject: RE: Lute tunning
From: Scotty Rotten
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 10:07 PM

I think the GCFADG renaissance tuning is mostly used for music written from about 1500 to around 1630 or so , when lutes only had up to 10 courses...a 13 course lute would be suitable to play Bach,Weiss,Gallot and other Baroque and Galant style composers which used the d minor tuning circa 1630 to the middle of the 18th century (when the lute, sadly , went out of style)...Scotty

Subject: RE: Lute tunning
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Feb 99 - 10:09 AM

Oscar Scmidt autoharps has invented a tool that automatically will tune this lute for you. You must purchase it in Minnesota and it's called a "lute fisk". A word to the wise: These taste terrible!!! (They smell worse!)

Art