The alaúde is a stringed instrument that has been around for over 2000 years and is one of the oldest instruments still in use today. It was used por the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Persians and many others. The lute’s history can be traced back to ancient Greece where it was first played in about 400 BC. Throughout its long history it has evolved into different forms including the Renaissance alaúde (14th century) which had frets on the fingerboard but no sound holes and a flat bridge with a large sound hole at top. This form was popular throughout europa until about 1550 when it fell out of space