a playable 7 course Renaissance lute, tuned in G

Seven Courses

Every course in unison. Tap a dot to pluck it. Drag down to strum.

so what are you looking at?

Three ideas and you can read any lute page.

1 course = 2 strings

Tap a course to hear it.

Tuned in fourths, except one

The third sits between courses 4 and 3.

Tab: lines and numbers

Just like guitar tab. Course 1 on top.

now the fun part

Same seven notes. Six different homes.

Move the home note and the whole mood changes. Tap Taste to hear one climb.

mode 1 · home on D

Dorian

The Wandering Minstrel

Minor, with a hopeful lift.

white keys onlyD to D, no sharps or flats

home is Devery phrase lands here

B is the lightthe note that brings hope

half dusk, half dawnsad, but walking forward

so what is Dorian, really?

Just the white notes, starting on D.

Tap the keys. Each one plays where it sits on your lute.

why does it sound like that?

Because of its shape.

the one note that changes everything

Swap B for B♭ and the hope goes out.

now find it on your lute

Where Dorian lives on your neck.

0 of 63 spots. Grey dots are the five notes it skips.

play it

then have some fun with it

Seven runs to try.

Each one moves differently. Tap any column to hear just that moment.

now put it all together

One whole song, start to finish.

Everything on this page in one piece. The scene follows the music, and the tab wraps line by line.

next stop

mode 3 · home on E

Phrygian

The Gothic Crypt

Dark, tense, and a little bit Spanish.

white keys from EE to E, no sharps or flats

home is Ethe key to the crypt

F is the shadowa tiny step that pulls you down

dark and tensethe spookiest of the six

so what is Phrygian, really?

Just the white notes, starting on E.

The very same notes as Dorian, with a new home. Tap the organ pipes.

why does it feel so dark?

Because the first step is tiny.

the one note that makes it Phrygian

Swap F for F♯ and the shadow lifts.

now find it on your lute

Where Phrygian lives on your neck.

0 of 63 spots. Exactly the same dots as Dorian, only home has moved.

play it

then have some fun in the dark

Seven runs in the dark.

Each one moves differently. Tap any column to hear just that moment.

now the whole song, by candlelight

One whole song, into the dark.

Everything on this page in one piece. The scene follows the music, and the tab wraps line by line.

next stop

mode 5 · home on F

Lydian

Stained Glass Light

Bright, dreamy, floating just above the ground.

white keys from FF to F, no sharps or flats

home is Fyour open 7th course

B makes it floatthe raised 4th that never sits down

bright and dreamythe sunniest of the six

so what is Lydian, really?

Just the white notes, starting on F.

Third mode, same seven notes, new home again. Tap the glass.

why does it feel so light?

Because it starts with a lift off.

the one note that makes it Lydian

Swap B for B♭ and it lands back on earth.

now find it on your lute

Where Lydian lives on your neck.

0 of 63 spots. And your lowest course is home.

play it

then go play in the light

Seven runs in the light.

Each one moves differently. Tap any column to hear just that moment.

now the whole song, at sunrise

One whole song, full of colour.

Everything on this page in one piece. The scene follows the music, and the tab wraps line by line.

next stop

mode 7 · home on G

Mixolydian

The Village Feast

Happy, earthy, with mud on its boots.

white keys from GG to G, no sharps or flats

home is Gyour two outer open courses

F is the rustic notea lowered 7th, never in a hurry

round and roundmajor, but with muddy boots

so what is Mixolydian, really?

Just the white notes, starting on G.

Fourth mode, same seven notes, home moves again. Tap a ribbon.

why does it feel so easygoing?

Because the last step takes its time.

the one note that makes it Mixolydian

Swap F for F♯ and it gets all proper.

now find it on your lute

Where Mixolydian lives on your neck.

0 of 63 spots. Four of your open courses are home or the rustic F.

play it

then join the feast

Seven runs for the feast.

Each one moves differently. Tap any column to hear just that moment.

now the whole song, for dancing

One whole song, for the feast.

Everything on this page in one piece. The scene follows the music, and the tab wraps line by line.

next stop

mode 9 · home on A

Aeolian

The Misty Moor

Plain, honest sadness. Rain, mist and a lonely tower.

white keys from AA to A, no sharps or flats

home is Ayour open 3rd course

F is the sighthe dark 6th that sinks onto E

driftingnatural minor, no drama

so what is Aeolian, really?

Just the white notes, starting on A.

The fifth home for the same seven notes, out on the moor. Tap the stones.

why does it feel so sad?

Because the half steps fall in the wrong places.

the one note that makes it Aeolian

Swap F for F♯ and you're back in Dorian.

now find it on your lute

Where Aeolian lives on your neck.

0 of 63 spots. The same white notes, home moved to A.

play it

then wander out on the moor

Seven runs on the moor.

Each one moves differently. Tap any column to hear just that moment.

now the whole song, in the rain

One whole song, a lament.

Everything on this page in one piece. The scene follows the music, and the tab wraps line by line.

next stop

mode 11 · home on C

Ionian

The Royal Court

Bright, proud, and every phrase lands exactly where it should.

white keys from CC to C, no sharps or flats

home is Cyour open 5th course

B is the bowthe leading note that bows into home

sure of itselfplain major, signed and sealed

so what is Ionian, really?

Just the white notes, starting on C.

The sixth and last home for the same seven notes, and the one everyone already knows. Tap the treasury.

why does it feel so settled?

Because it's built like a palace, two matching wings.

the one note that makes it Ionian

Swap B for B♭ and the court turns into the feast.

now find it on your lute

Where Ionian lives on your neck.

0 of 63 spots. The same white notes, home on your open 5th course.

play it

then join the court

Seven runs at court.

Each one moves differently. Tap any column to hear just that moment.

now the whole song, for the crowning

One whole song, fit for a throne.

Everything on this page in one piece. The scene follows the music, and the tab wraps line by line.

the end of the journey