How the laúd makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the laúd belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
Laúd (Spanish: "lute") is a plectrum-plucked chordophone from Spain, played also in diaspora countries such as Cuba and the Philippines. Its name, just as lute itself, stems from Arabic al-oud العود, literally meaning “the wood”.
The laúd belongs to the cittern family of instruments. The Spanish and Cuban instruments have six double courses in unison (i.e. twelve strings in pairs); the Philippine instrument has 14 strings with some courses singled or tripled. A similar, but smaller instrument, with a shorter neck, is the bandurria, which also exists in 12- and 14-string versions.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a laúd sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the laúd?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.322).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q1809626 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Laúd – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Medievalista – Public domain