Daniel, Once I get my 7 course lute built, the kit arrived today - and I guess I should call it a nylon strung orphelion (did I spell that right James - I think it was you who wrote of the popular Elizabethan instrument with a flat back and wire strings) I'll have a lot to ask about technique. But it seems to me that there can't have been too much change, unless I'm wrong that the strings beyond the sixth string on the various "lutes" are basically whole tone intervals and are mainly struck individually with the thumb to fill the chord.
Guitarists, despite your suggestion, don't have one correct technique. Flemenco and classical, or Spanish or finger pickin' folk. One moves the fingers as is practical for the particular piece and style. My big problem in the conversion, as being practiced on the retuned guitar, is the use of my fourth finger on higher strings. A new habit, and a new strength, to be practiced. (I've even started using the pinkie to play the dulcimer just to strengthen it and make the callouses). I would guess that the logic of the fingering would carry over, it might change the fingerings to have a larger instrument, but not the natural logic of being prepared for the next note. But I'll drop this here until I actually try with the French notation instead of the guitar transcription. And I'll not ask yet about the "rolled" chords I hear on Ronn's CD, as to whether on uses a thumb brush or a fast arpeggio. I'll need to try it on the "real" instrument first. Best, Jon>
