Thank you playing so beautifully! I just acquired a mandate myself. I haven’t yet been able to tune it. I’m guessing that it will be low g c e a like a uke. Until I happened onto your video, I didn’t know what this instrument would sound like. I’m also taking note of your right hand technique. Thank you again !
Thank you for your kind comment, Kathleen. Yes, I tune it like a uke, with the low G, and that's the same tuning as a 4-course guitar from the 16th century. Speaking of the 16th century: my right hand technique is largely based on the "thumb-under" lute technique of the time, which I think allows me to get all kinds of nice details when I play.
Hello nice. I have a small lute with five cordes and I’m trying to learn how to play on it. If it’s similar as your which I noticed is only 4 cordes may be we can learn from you on how to use it. Thx
Hi Karim! It sounds like you have obtained a five-course guittern (a 14th-15th century lute). There are a few different ways of tuning the instrument, depending on what you would like to play (and depending on the string gauges). The historical data for late medieval lutes suggest fourths, with a third between the 2nd and 3rd courses, or between the 3rd and 4th courses. So, for a deeper sound, low to high: G-C-f-a-d', or for a brighter sound, low to high: C-f-a-d'-g'. This assumes that your guittern has frets, of course. Typically the late medieval lute/guittern was played with a plectrum, but I think there's plenty of evidence that fingers were used as well. If you are familiar with the guitar, you may recognize the chord patterns available for these tunings. Above all, have fun!
Hello Stefan, I'm Rucy! I"m glad I stumpled upon your videos they are indeed marvelous and a showcase of your excellent skill with rather unusual instruments. I'd like to know if you'd reccomend Mid-East Lutes, the 7 and 8 courses for a starter
Hi Rucy! Thank you for your comments and praise. I'm pretty pleased with the quality of my Mid-East 7-course EMS lute. It's light and resonant, well-made, and it stays in tune very well. I'm not sure if the quality is consistent with all their lutes, but if mine is any indication I would recommend them wholeheartedly. I don't think they still stock the EMS lutes, but the Zachary Taylor ones that Mid-East currently stock look comparable. Since I started on a 7 course, I'm pretty used to that, but I think the 8 course is a good standard for most renaissance and Elizabethan and Jacobean repertory. Have fun!
Stefan Dollak Thank you for your answer Mr Stefan! but since i'm Brasilian I have no access to any of'em, lol. But I'm coming to USA in the end of this year and i've been saving some cash so I guess i'll buy a 8 course lute! This Uke astonished me, it sounds marvelous even with that camcoder mic! (sorry) And I think i'll buy this one aswell, really distinct descant-lutey sound. And my question is, it seems to have a really short scale....is it possible to play more complex stuff like downland's on it? P.S By complex I mean come again, can she excuse my wrongs etc
This is incredible I was watching a series and found this instrument and I became obsess may ask how much did this cost and also on a scale how far would you say it is to learn this instrument.
Hi there! This 'lute-kulele' is pretty reasonably priced: about $400 USD, I think... which isn't bad, compared to some other instruments like the bari sax or hurdy-gurdy. The instrument is tuned similarly to a ukulele, which is in turn tuned like the four high strings of a guitar. So if you have guitar knowledge, you're pretty much there.
@@stefanmarkos oh thank you for replying I just found this instrument not to long ago and I felt like playing a different string instrument besides my viola and seeing your video made me want to purchase and learn to play it.
Hi Nikki! The tuning is a standard 'ukulele' tuning: G-C-E-A low to high, without the re-entrant G (so the G is low). This is the same tuning as the four-course 16th century renaissance guitar. The vibrating length is about 42.7cm (16.8 inches), so it's pretty tight. A proper 'historically accurate' renaissance guitar will typically have a longer vibrating length than that, sometimes as much as 56 cm. I imagine this instrument could also be useful in a mandola tuning (with the proper, light-gauge strings), but I haven't tried it.
Hi there! The pegs are the old-fashioned friction pegs made of ebony, and there is a small hole drilled through them to accommodate the string. The other end of the string is tied to the bridge similar to the way a classical guitar string would be tied.
I think I might want this for either my birthday or Christmas.
As usual, most hauntingly entrancing and irresistibly mesmerizing, your smiley musicality!
I love it! Thanks!
lute-kulele, heheh
Awesome and cute instrument
Lovely, Stefan! I'd love to hear you play in person and meet your lovely family, but alas, I don't travel well.
Thank you playing so beautifully! I just acquired a mandate myself. I haven’t yet been able to tune it. I’m guessing that it will be low g c e a like a uke. Until I happened onto your video, I didn’t know what this instrument would sound like. I’m also taking note of your right hand technique. Thank you again !
Thank you for your kind comment, Kathleen. Yes, I tune it like a uke, with the low G, and that's the same tuning as a 4-course guitar from the 16th century. Speaking of the 16th century: my right hand technique is largely based on the "thumb-under" lute technique of the time, which I think allows me to get all kinds of nice details when I play.
Hello nice.
I have a small lute with five cordes and I’m trying to learn how to play on it. If it’s similar as your which I noticed is only 4 cordes may be we can learn from you on how to use it. Thx
Hi Karim! It sounds like you have obtained a five-course guittern (a 14th-15th century lute). There are a few different ways of tuning the instrument, depending on what you would like to play (and depending on the string gauges). The historical data for late medieval lutes suggest fourths, with a third between the 2nd and 3rd courses, or between the 3rd and 4th courses.
So, for a deeper sound, low to high: G-C-f-a-d', or for a brighter sound, low to high: C-f-a-d'-g'.
This assumes that your guittern has frets, of course. Typically the late medieval lute/guittern was played with a plectrum, but I think there's plenty of evidence that fingers were used as well.
If you are familiar with the guitar, you may recognize the chord patterns available for these tunings. Above all, have fun!
Fabulous embellishments - it's almost like toccata and fugue in places !
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. Of course, now that you mentioned the Bach Tocatta, that's all I'll think about when I play this! ;)
Also how can I tune it ?
Hello Stefan, I'm Rucy!
I"m glad I stumpled upon your videos they are indeed marvelous and a showcase of your excellent skill with rather unusual instruments.
I'd like to know if you'd reccomend Mid-East Lutes, the 7 and 8 courses for a starter
Hi Rucy! Thank you for your comments and praise.
I'm pretty pleased with the quality of my Mid-East 7-course EMS lute. It's light and resonant, well-made, and it stays in tune very well. I'm not sure if the quality is consistent with all their lutes, but if mine is any indication I would recommend them wholeheartedly. I don't think they still stock the EMS lutes, but the Zachary Taylor ones that Mid-East currently stock look comparable. Since I started on a 7 course, I'm pretty used to that, but I think the 8 course is a good standard for most renaissance and Elizabethan and Jacobean repertory. Have fun!
Stefan Dollak
Thank you for your answer Mr Stefan! but since i'm Brasilian I have no access to any of'em, lol.
But I'm coming to USA in the end of this year and i've been saving some cash so I guess i'll buy a 8 course lute!
This Uke astonished me, it sounds marvelous even with that camcoder mic! (sorry) And I think i'll buy this one aswell, really distinct descant-lutey sound.
And my question is, it seems to have a really short scale....is it possible to play more complex stuff like downland's on it?
P.S By complex I mean come again, can she excuse my wrongs etc
This is incredible I was watching a series and found this instrument and I became obsess may ask how much did this cost and also on a scale how far would you say it is to learn this instrument.
Hi there! This 'lute-kulele' is pretty reasonably priced: about $400 USD, I think... which isn't bad, compared to some other instruments like the bari sax or hurdy-gurdy. The instrument is tuned similarly to a ukulele, which is in turn tuned like the four high strings of a guitar. So if you have guitar knowledge, you're pretty much there.
@@stefanmarkos oh thank you for replying I just found this instrument not to long ago and I felt like playing a different string instrument besides my viola and seeing your video made me want to purchase and learn to play it.
Ukulele 🎶✨🧸✨🎶 👶👏🌴
whats the tuning and the scalelenght (from nut to brindge
Hi Nikki!
The tuning is a standard 'ukulele' tuning: G-C-E-A low to high, without the re-entrant G (so the G is low). This is the same tuning as the four-course 16th century renaissance guitar.
The vibrating length is about 42.7cm (16.8 inches), so it's pretty tight. A proper 'historically accurate' renaissance guitar will typically have a longer vibrating length than that, sometimes as much as 56 cm.
I imagine this instrument could also be useful in a mandola tuning (with the proper, light-gauge strings), but I haven't tried it.
whats the tuning
How are those chords tuned on the pegs or well tied to them? I'm thinking of making a DIY Lute and would like some advice
Hi there! The pegs are the old-fashioned friction pegs made of ebony, and there is a small hole drilled through them to accommodate the string. The other end of the string is tied to the bridge similar to the way a classical guitar string would be tied.
What is the tuning for something like this?
The tuning I use is renaissance guitar tuning: G-c-e-a, low to high.
can someone that plays Uku get this and go straight to playing?
If you want something more Like a uku I suggest the baroque-kulele
@@SirDevonG Thanks, but I mean, if I already know how to play a Uke, can I expect to be able to play this four course lute?
Edo garavi yes should be able too
Yes, this is tuned just like any ukulele; GCEA.