Dear Jon, Reading between the lines it seems (from what you say) that you rest your little finger on the soundboard in spite of what you have been told to do by your teacher. It is correct to rest one's little finger on the soundboard of the lute. It is incorrect (and impractical) to hold one's hand away from the instrument, as classical guitarists do.
If you prefer using thumb and ring finger for fast runs, there is probably something basically wrong with your right-hand position. Thumb and index finger is correct, because it is easier that way. Everyone's ring finger is weaker than the other fingers, because it is joined up with the middle finger inside the hand; and keeping one's finger on the soundboard tends to restrict the action of the ring finger. Some players (notably Gerle and Kapsberger) rested their ring finger and little finger on the soundboard. Not all lutenetters have come to the lute from the classical guitar. I learned clawhammer guitar and Scruggs style banjo before I got interested in playing the lute. All the best, Stewart. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon Murphy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Herbert Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 7:07 AM Subject: Re: Beg. question, voicing 4-note chords. > Herbert, > > You and I seem to have a different problem, and as you know I started by > just reading the music in McFarlane's Scots Lute. I am about to take my > second lesson (the first was a couple of months ago, and I was instructed to > stay away from songs and just practice (p,i) with thumb under type runs. I > tried, but I'm incorrigeable. I find my right hand ring finger (a) to be my > strongest, it always wants to play - and my little finger is quite happy to > stay on the soundboard. Perhaps it is my folk guitar "pickin" experience, > rather than the classical many of you have. But then again it may be the > difference in hand shape we each have, or the other things we've done with > our hands. > > Best, Jon > > >
