luteharp

The luteharp is a hybrid chordophone that blends features of the lute and the harp. Designed to provide both melodic lines and harmonic accompaniment from a single instrument, it combines a fretted neck with a harp-like array of strings across the soundboard.

Most models have a lute-style neck with tied-down frets and a rounded body similar to small lutes or early guitars. A separate set of open strings runs from a central bridge to an adjacent frame or harp pillar, arranged to be plucked independently or in arpeggio, sometimes with levers to adjust pitch. Strings may be gut, nylon, or metal, and many instruments accommodate pickups or MIDI electronics for amplification.

The right hand plucks the fretted lute strings to articulate melodies or chords, while the harp strings are plucked or strummed with the other fingers to add drone or ornamental arpeggios. The left hand frets the lute neck to change pitch, and some players use ornamentation such as glissando replacements between the two string systems.

Tuning and range: Lute strings are typically tuned in a diatonic or modal framework to support chordal accompaniment; harp strings may be tuned to drone pitches or designed to span parallel intervals. Ranges vary, commonly two to four octaves, depending on neck length and harp string span.

History and usage: The luteharp emerged in late 20th-century experimental and early-music contexts as a concept instrument. A small number of makers have produced playable prototypes; performances appear in contemporary folk, fusion, and scholarly reconstructions. It remains relatively rare and highly individualized in design.