In the ancient times the lute had an oval case and the neck was long or short; the lute with the neck bent back, apeared in the middle east and was introduced by the Arabs in Spain in 1200 spreading all over Europe.

It was an instrument played with a plectrum, but since 1400 the use of fingers was preferred. The harmonica case is made of thin fillets and a flat, thin harmonica board with a central finely inlaid hole calle "rosa". The neck ends with the "cavigliere" at right angle where there are the pegs wich are used to control the tension.