The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and artistic flourishing in Europe, and many new instruments were developed during this time. Two of the most popular stringed instruments of the Renaissance were the LUTE and the rebec. The LUTE is a plucked string instrument with a long neck and a pear-shaped body. It has four to six courses of strings and is played with a pick. The rebec is a bowed string instrument with a short neck and a round body. It has three strings and is played with a bow. Both instruments are still used today in folk music and early music ensembles.