Lute lesson 101: How to Tune a Renaissance Lute

Lute lesson 101: How to Tune a Renaissance Lute / In this video we look at two different types of Renaissance lutes: 6-course lute and 8-course lute. We look at how to use the app ClearTune, and look at how to arrange the movable gut frets in the appropriate location. If you want to start learning how to play the Renaissance lute, this video is for you!

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Hong Kong Lutenist & Classical Guitarist

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Lute Society of America Lute Rental Program website:

ClearTune in App Store:

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#RenaissanceLute #8courseLute​ #EarlyMusic

[anepictree]

This is wonderful, so clear and helpful - I'm sure I'll be back several more times as I try and learn to tune my new 8 course Lute. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. Peter (in Paris France)

[irfanchooify]

Thanks for sharing such important lute knowledge.

[MrDanthemanlyman]

Very informational and helpful. I look forward to seeing more in the series.

[tonyzinnanti]

Great video. I started playing Renaissance Lute about a week ago and now I know why it's so challenging to tune. But, once it's tuned, it's amazing.

[mariozelaya]

Thanks Kenneth, for all your tips!!!!
Does anyone know the name of the song Kenneth is using at the beginning of his video???
I love it but don't know what song it is.

[matatelingaworks]

Thank you for the detailed info - very much appreciated.
However I wonder which root key to select in ClearTune? When choosing 1/6th comma meantone one needs to select the root key which makes sense... But which should it be? The lowest string (=G for 6 course)? Or F being the most common key (my assumption) until 1550?

[RainMakeR_Workshop]

would a 12 sting guitar with one of the high E strings removed work to begin with? I know it'd require custom gauges for the unison strings. But I don't mind buying more strings.

[bobbymcloughlin]

The Most Common Renaissance Lute that I Check the Tunings is always an Alto not a Tenor

Renaissance Lutes

Alto Lutes:

Medieval
3 Course: A³ D⁴ G⁴
4 Course: F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
5 Course: C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
6 Course: G² C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
Renaissance
7 Course: D² G² C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
8 Course: A¹ D² G² C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
9 Course: E¹ A¹ D² G² C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
10 Course: B⁰ E¹ A¹ D² G² C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
11 Course: F#⁰ B⁰ E¹ A¹ D² G² C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴
12 Course: C#⁰ F#⁰ B⁰ E¹ A¹ D² G² C³ F³ A³ D⁴ G⁴

Tenor Lutes:

Medieval
3 Course: F#³ B³ E⁴
4 Course: D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
5 Course: A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
6 Course: E² A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
Renaissance
7 Course: B¹ E² A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
8 Course: F#¹ B¹ E² A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
9 Course: C#¹ F#¹ B¹ E² A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
10 Course: G#⁰ C#¹ F#¹ B¹ E² A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
11 Course: D#⁰ G#⁰ C#¹ F#¹ B¹ E² A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴
12 Course: A#-¹ D#⁰ G#⁰ C#¹ F#¹ B¹ E² A² D³ F#³ B³ E⁴

[bluesky]

Cleartune does not exist for Android phones.

[internaut]

I cant for the life of me get my lute tuned right