Lute

A lute was a stringed instrument with a neck and a wooden soundboard, which was often ovoid or shaped as a teardrop. Lutes were often used by bards of the Realms.

Description
Lutes typically had a round back, so they rested easily on the player's stomach. Doubled strings could be used to emit a fuller sound, and these were easily tuned by pegs.

Availability

 * Several types of doubled-string lutes built by craftsmen in Calimshan were available for purchase through Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue.
 * Black Dugal's Music Shoppe in Ravens Bluff.
 * Halambar Lutes & Harps in Waterdeep was a well-known musical instrument shop that sold lutes. Kriios Halambar's lutes produced a distinctive mellow sound recognized all along the Sword Coast.
 * The Mute Lute in Neverwinter made lutes that were highly prized in the Realms and even offered to custom-make lutes.

Notable Lutes

 * Calliope's enchanted lute: an old and rugged magical lute owned by Calliope in the late 15 century DR.
 * Doss lute: One of the seven Instruments of the Bards, this superior magical lute was capable of channeling spells when played.

Groups

 * Lutes were popular instruments for minstrels playing in royal courts and were known to be played as far north as Sundabar.

Individuals

 * Drake Bluenote, a member of the bardic group Adagio Jones and The Goodwinds, occasionally played the lute ballads and songs done by the string ensemble.
 * Felratha
 * Roland the Minstrel

Trivia
Those who specialized in making lutes were known as luthiers.