It's a good topic to distract him from any potential gloom.

"A lute," he repeats with a grin, because he can't not think about... Shakespeare or the Renaissance Festival when he hears that. Classic bardery or whatever. But then he realizes that it might sound like he's claiming to play the lute, and Jeff quickly clarifies with: "I play the guitar, mostly? I mean, I've noodled around with other instruments-- bass, keyboard, one time I tried to play the drums and my friends said I was never allowed to touch 'em again--"

Oh no, he mentioned his friends again, and that's just going to make him sad and-- quick, time for another distraction.

"--but for little stuff, liiiiike rigging carnival games, all I need is my voice. I can show you, if you want?"