Lutes and Guitars

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Extant historical instruments can help to rediscover the musical and social contexts in which lutes and guitars were used and to better understand the often-porous borders between learned and popular music. For much of the history of fretted plucked stringed instruments, there existed an opposition between the prestigious lute and the more accessible mandolin, cittern, and guitar. Thanks to the growing number of strings during the Renaissance, the lute acquired its reputation as an instrument for expert players and elite audiences. By the end of the eighteenth century, the more accessible guitar had dispensed with double string courses in favor of six single strings, which made it less expensive, easier to tune, and better suited to homophonic repertoire. After the lute became obsolete, the guitar could claim more serious attention. The quest for increased volume has been a constant in the guitar’s development, leading to the generalized use of steel and later nylon strings, experimentation with arched tops, and finally electric pickups to amplify the guitar’s sound.</jats:p>