Lute:
* Shape: Pear-shaped body with a long neck.
* Strings: Typically 6 or 7 gut strings, with a set of courses (paired strings) and single strings.
* Tuning: Various tunings were used, but the most common is the "standard tuning" with a fourth between the lowest two courses, and then perfect fifths up the neck.
* Origin: Believed to have originated in the Middle East and spread to Europe around the 12th century.
* Range: Typically three octaves.
* Sound: Lutes have a warm, mellow tone.
* Genre: Popular in Renaissance music, particularly for solo performances and chamber music.
Vihuela:
* Shape: Flat-backed, guitar-like body with a wide, shallow soundbox.
* Strings: Typically 5 double courses (10 strings total) made of gut or nylon.
* Tuning: Tuned in fifths, similar to a guitar.
* Origin: Developed in Spain in the 16th century.
* Range: A bit less than four octaves.
* Sound: Bright and resonant, with a sharper attack than the lute.
* Genre: Popular in Renaissance music, particularly for accompanying vocals, dance music, and instrumental ensembles.
Key Differences:
* Shape: The lute has a more pear-shaped body, while the vihuela is flatter and more guitar-like.
* Strings: The vihuela has 10 strings, usually in double courses, while the lute typically has 6 or 7 strings, with a combination of courses and single strings.
* Tuning: The vihuela's tuning is in fifths, while the lute has a more complex tuning system.
* Sound: The vihuela has a brighter and more resonant sound than the lute.
In essence:
While both the lute and vihuela are plucked string instruments that were popular in Renaissance music, they differ in their shape, number of strings, tuning, and sound. The lute is known for its mellow and warm tone, while the vihuela has a brighter and more resonant sound.