The lute is a plucked-string musical instrument. Its construction features a deeply rounded, ovoid body fabricated out of thin strips of wood glued together edgewise. The body is closed by a wooden soundboard or table to which the bridge is glued. The strings are tied around the bridge and stretched along a neck, which is fitted with a number of tied frets, to one or more pegboxes, where they are tuned by adjusting the tension. The strings are stopped or fretted with one hand while plucking with the other. The lute was popular and widely used in Europe from about the 12th century AD until well into the 18th century. After a period of disuse lasting more than a hundred years, interest in it slowly revived during the 20th century. Some audio and video examples of lute playing are available on our "Downloads" page.

    The Lute Society of America, founded in 1966, is devoted to the lute and its music. Membership is open to anyone, anywhere:  scholars and listeners as well as amateur or professional players. We share information through our publications, an e-mail forum (operated by Wayne Cripps), here on our www pages, and at one or two annual Summer Seminars. Smaller regional meetings are occasionally sponsored as well.

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