What is lute guitars?

Lute guitars are a type of guitar that have a soundbox or resonator with a round or teardrop shape. They are primarily used for classical and Baroque music. Lute guitars are characteristically fretted and strung with gut or nylon strings that are tuned to a high pitch, similar to a lute, but have a curved back similar to a guitar.

Some lute guitars have a smaller scale length than modern classical guitars, typically around 64-66 cm, which makes them suitable for certain historical instruments and repertoire. Lute guitars may also have fewer frets than modern guitars, and may have decorative inlays on the fingerboard.

The lute guitar has a long history, dating back to the Renaissance period of European music. Renaissance lute music was often written in tablature, a system of notation that used symbols to indicate which strings should be fretted and which open. Later, the lute guitar fell out of use as the guitar evolved into its modern form. However, in the mid-20th century, there was a resurgence of interest in early music, and lute guitars were resurrected by some luthiers and players. Today, lute guitars continue to be used for early music performances and recordings.