The Vihuela and the Guitar in the XVI Century
José Rodríguez Alvira
Tuning
The following table shows the tuning used by both instruments:
| Guitar | Vihuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Strings | Four pair of strings (courses) tuned in unison. The 4th string tuned in octaves | Six pair of strings tuned in unison |
| Tuning | Two tunings existed: temple viejo (old tuning) y temple nuevo (new tuning).
Old: G, D, F#, B |
The tuning is similar to the guitar but the 3rd string would be tuned one half step lower: E, A, D, F#, B, E.
There were vihuelas of different sizes tunes higher or lower. The previous tuning is that of the vihuela in E. Vihuelas could be tuned in A, G, F#, F, E and D. |
NOTE: Tuning is specified from the lower string to the highest.
