Hornbostel - Sachs
Lutes
One or more strings are stretched between fixed points. The string bearer and the resonator are organically united and cannot be separated without destroying the instrument. The plane of the strings runs parallel with the sound-table. The string bearer is a plain handle. Subsidiary necks, as e.g. in the Indian prasarini vina are disregarded, as also are lutes with strings distributed over several necks, like the harpolyre, and those like the lyre-guitars, in which the yoke is merely ornamental.
Handle lutes
Spike lutes
Necked lutes
Half-spike lutes or tanged lutes