I agree, and I speak only from what I hear on my own sorry Lute, the impossibility of getting each string in a course to be exactly in tune with its partner is almost an impossibility. This gives the total sounding of a single course a slight beat to it which adds depth and, as mentioned, warmth to the course. This is also the main reason in my opinion that no one really shed many tears when the move away from a doubled first course became the norm. I play a Lute with a doubled first course and I love the sound.
A little side bar on the issue. Guitar players first coming to the Lute have trouble with the right hand playing both strings in a course or they don't play both strings but think they do. The one major reason many think the Lute sounds like a Guitar. Once any player takes the time and effort to make sure both strings are sounding clearly and together will probably never go back to the Guitar. I still have problems making chords do this but single notes against a base line are no problem for me. Anyone with any suggestions as how to remedy this issue short of amputation would be welcomed. Vance Wood ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Herbert Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 8:19 PM Subject: [LUTE] Re: Computer analysis of double string sound. > The paired strings of each double course on a lute are not quite exactly > the same in length (the bridge and nut are usually not exactly parallel, > but also the string spacing is wider at the bridge than at the nut). > Vagaries of tying at the bridge and in the shape of the groove in the nut > could give each string slightly different terminatino characteristics. > Each gut string is an individual, none being perfect. Any used string > will be imperfect from fret wear. > > It would seem to me rather miraculous to find two 'twin' strings, all > issues of tuning aside. The result is a quite welcome 'warmth'. > -- > Dana Emery > > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >
