It may be either fretted or unfretted. Lutes are stringed musical instruments that include a body and a neck which serves both as a handle and as a means of stretching the strings beyond the body The lute is a stringed musical instrument plucked with the fingers or a plectrum (pick).
Lute | Musical Instrument & History of the Stringed Instrument | Britannica
Lute, in music, any plucked or bowed chordophone whose strings are parallel to its belly, or soundboard, and run along a distinct neck or pole
In this sense, instruments such as the indian sitar are classified as lutes.
The lute derives its name, as well as its distinctive shape, from the arabic 'ud, an instrument which is vey much at the heart of arabic musical life to this day. Lutes typically have a hollow body, or resonating chamber, that helps amplify the sound, and strings that are plucked or strummed. Lutes are fascinating string instruments with a rich history Discover what a lute instrument is and explore the world of lutes today.
This instrument has played a pivotal role in the evolution of western music, renowned both for its expressive capabilities and its varied tonal qualities.
