Course (music)

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Waldzither courses.
Oud courses.

A course, on a stringed musical instrument, is two or more adjacent strings that are closely spaced relative to the other strings, and typically played as a single string. The strings in each course are typically tuned in unison or an octave. Course may also refer to a single string normally played on its own on an instrument with other multi-string courses, for example the bass (lowest) string on a nine string baroque guitar.

An instrument with at least one (multiple string) course is referred to as coursed, while one whose strings are all played individually is uncoursed.[citation needed]

Rationale and types[edit]

Multiple string courses were probably originally employed to increase the volume of instruments, in eras in which electrical amplification did not exist, and stringed instruments might be expected to accompany louder instruments (such as woodwinds or brass). Eventually, however, they came to be employed to alter the timbral characteristics (the "tone") of instruments as well.

Strings within a multistring course may have all the strings tuned to the same pitch (e.g. mandolins); they may be tuned to the same pitch class but in different octaves (e.g. Tiple); or the strings may be tuned to different pitches, usually for special effect.[1]

Examples of instruments that use two-string courses include:

Examples of instruments that use three-string courses include:

Examples of instruments that use four- (or more) string courses include:

As may be seen, some instruments contain courses with differing numbers of strings. A typical piano, for example, contains courses with one, two, and three strings, in different parts of its range.


Main article: mandolin

All members of the mandolin family, except some versions of the lowest-pitched, have courses each of two or three strings, most commonly eight strings in four courses.

The exception is some varieties of mando-bass, which have four individual strings.

An acoustic 12-string guitar. The one shown here is an Ibanez instrument.


Main article: lute


Baroque guitar[edit]

Main article: Baroque guitar

The baroque guitar has five courses, with the bottom four always double strung, and the top string (the "chanterelle") either double or single.

There are also several patterns of modern ten-string guitar but all have ten single strings, played individually.

Twelve-string guitar[edit]

Main article: Twelve-string guitar

The twelve-string guitar has twelve strings, in six courses. The courses are most often tuned E-A-D-G-B-E, similarly to a six-string guitar; however, older instruments were often tuned one tone lower D-G-C-F-A-D to reduce the tension on the neck, and commonly played with a capo on fret 2.

The lowest three courses (E-A-D) are normally tuned at octaves, with the primary string uppermost and the octave below it, while the upper two courses (B-E) are tuned to unison. The G course is either unison or at octaves.

On some electric twelve-string guitars, and most notably the Rickenbacker 360/12, the octave strings are below the primary strings.


Main article: Tiple
Tiple Colombiano
American tiple

The national instrument of Columbia, the tiple Colombiano, has four courses of three strings each. It's higher pitched relative, the tiple requinto, is similarly triple-strung.

The American Tiple, a smaller instrument loosely derived from the Columbian tiple, uses two double-strung courses and two triple-strung courses.

Twelve-string bass[edit]

Main article: twelve-string bass
Detail of twelve string bass

The electric twelve-string bass has twelve strings in four triple courses. Basses have also been built with six double courses and other configs but these are very rare.

See also[edit]