How to tune a lute by ear
Lute tuning depends on the type of lute you are playing. Unlike a modern guitar, there is no single tuning that covers every historical lute.
The most important distinction is between the Renaissance lute and the later Baroque lute.
For a six-course Renaissance lute in G, the basic tuning is:
G2 – C3 – F3 – A3 – D4 – G4
Use the TuneStrings reference tones above one course at a time. Play the reference note, then pluck the matching lute course and adjust until the pitches settle together.
If a course has two strings, tune one string first and then bring the second into agreement with it. A slow beating or wavering between the two strings tells you they are still slightly apart.
Renaissance lute tuning
| Course | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6th course | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| 5th course | C3 | 130.81 Hz |
| 4th course | F3 | 174.61 Hz |
| 3rd course | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| 2nd course | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
| 1st course | G4 | 392.00 Hz |
These frequencies assume A4 = 440 Hz. Historical performance may use a lower pitch standard, so TuneStrings lets you adjust the reference pitch.
Why lute tuning is different from guitar tuning
A six-course Renaissance lute is tuned in a pattern of fourths with one major third in the middle.
From the lowest course upward, the interval pattern is:
4th – 4th – major 3rd – 4th – 4th
This is closely related to modern guitar tuning, but shifted to a different pitch centre.
In fact, a guitarist can approximate Renaissance lute tuning by lowering the guitar’s third string by a semitone and treating the instrument in a different register.
What is a course?
A lute is normally described by its number of courses, not simply by its number of strings.
A course may contain one or two strings. On many Renaissance lutes, several courses are doubled, so a six-course instrument may have more than six physical strings.
The two strings of a doubled course may be tuned in unison or, especially in lower courses, sometimes in octaves depending on the instrument and historical setup.
7-, 8-, 9- and 10-course Renaissance lutes
As Renaissance lutes developed, makers added extra bass courses below the original six-course tuning.
The six upper courses normally retain the familiar Renaissance relationship, while the added bass courses extend the range downward.
These extra basses were not completely standardized historically. Players could retune them according to the key or the music they were playing.
On later 10-course instruments, the lower bass courses were often arranged stepwise so that several useful bass notes were available as open strings.
Why TuneStrings does not pretend every historical lute has one fixed tuning
Lute tuning changed across countries, periods and repertoires.
A modern online tuner can easily give the impression that every 7-, 8- or 10-course lute should always be tuned to one exact set of notes. Historically, that is too simple.
For that reason, TuneStrings treats the six-course Renaissance tuning as the main reference and uses extended tunings as practical presets rather than claiming there was one universal historical standard.
Baroque lute tuning
The Baroque lute uses a different tuning system from the Renaissance lute.
The six main fretted courses are commonly tuned around a D minor chord:
A – D – F – A – D – F
Additional bass courses extend downward step by step below these main courses.
By the 18th century, the 13-course Baroque lute had become an important standard in parts of northern Europe.
Renaissance lute or Baroque lute?
If your instrument has six, seven, eight or ten courses and is intended for Renaissance repertoire, start with Renaissance tuning.
If you have a 13-course instrument intended for later Baroque repertoire, particularly music associated with the German and French traditions, you are more likely dealing with D-minor Baroque tuning.
If you are unsure, check the instrument maker’s specification or the repertoire for which the lute was built before changing the tuning significantly.
Tuning doubled lute courses
Tune one string in the course to the reference tone first.
Then tune the second string while listening to both together. If they are slightly apart, you will hear a beating or shimmering effect.
As the two strings move into agreement, that movement slows down and the course becomes clearer and more stable.
On some bass courses, the two strings may be intended to sound an octave apart rather than in unison, so always follow the setup appropriate to your instrument.
Historical pitch and A = 440 Hz
Modern tuners often assume A4 = 440 Hz, but historical lute performance may use other pitch standards such as A = 415 Hz or lower.
This matters because the entire instrument shifts with the reference pitch.
If you are playing with a historical ensemble, match their reference pitch rather than automatically using 440 Hz.
A few practical lute tuning tips
Make small adjustments near the final pitch. Lute strings, especially gut or gut-like strings, can respond quickly to small peg movements.
Pluck gently and consistently. A hard attack can make the initial pitch less stable.
After tuning all courses, check them again. Changing tension across several courses can cause previously tuned strings to move slightly.
On instruments with many courses, it is worth making a second complete pass from bass to treble.
Frequently asked questions
What is standard Renaissance lute tuning?
A common six-course Renaissance lute in G is tuned G2–C3–F3–A3–D4–G4.
How many strings does a lute have?
It depends on the lute. Lutes are usually described by courses rather than physical strings, and many courses contain two strings.
What is a lute course?
A course is one playing position on the instrument. It may contain a single string or a pair of strings tuned together.
Are all Renaissance lutes tuned the same way?
The basic six-course interval pattern is highly characteristic, but larger lutes with additional bass courses were not always tuned identically. Extra basses could vary with repertoire and period.
What is Baroque lute tuning?
The six main fretted courses of a Baroque lute commonly use a D-minor-based tuning, approximately A–D–F–A–D–F, with additional bass courses below.
Should I use A = 440 Hz for lute?
You can, but historical ensembles often use a lower reference pitch such as A = 415 Hz. Match the pitch standard of the music or ensemble you are playing with.
Why do some lute courses have two different pitches?
Some lower doubled courses may use octave stringing rather than unison. The correct setup depends on the type of lute and historical tradition.