Dear Vance, Stewart and All:
The use of Eucerin does not make the fingertips slick or oily; that is not
the aim here. The aim is to keep the fingertips soft and supple so they get
a proper amount of "grip" on a string. If the fingertip is slick you've
applied far too much.
My concept of a good lute tone is based on the fingertip depressing a
course of strings, and as it follows through to produce a note, it "rolls"
over the strings, perhaps even to the point that the strings twist slightly
before they are released. This requires that the fingertip be neither slick
nor dry, but soft and pliant.
This might involve applying the cream more than once a day if the weather
is dry, of if one's activities tend to dry the skin, and not necessarily
right before playing.
Yours,
Jim
"Vance Wood"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "lute list" <[EMAIL
PROTECTED]>
net> cc:
Subject: Re: Right Hand Questions
10/26/2003 04:50
AM
Stewart:
I understand what you are saying, but the longer this thread continues more
I realize that few understand what I am saying. When I get the best sound
out of the Lute is after I have soaked my self in our Jacuzzi (something we
installed because of a back injury) and my hands have become amply pruned.
The tips of my fingers are not slick or oily, they are soft and slip
resistant like felt soled shoes on a mossy surface. It is my understanding
of what is going on is that the fingers are not slipping across the strings
but are actually hanging on to them for a mili second. Both courses are
then
sounding almost as one and because the strings are vibrating together the
over tones are more clear and resonant. I don't know if I am making myself
understood. I hope someone will try this and figure out what is going on.
Vance Wood.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stewart McCoy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Lute Net" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: Right Hand Questions
> Dear Charles,
>
> I have often seen Christopher Wilson run his fingers down the side
> of
> his nose in between pieces. I found it strange, until someone
> explained to me why he did it.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Stewart McCoy.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Charles Browne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "Vance Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "lute list"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Serge-Andr� Comeau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 7:51 PM
> Subject: RE: Right Hand Questions
>
>
> two other tips that I have heard from a guitarist for the right hand
> finger -tips during a performance was to run the fingers down the
> side of
> the nose in between pieces. This transfers some of the sebum,
> secretions
> from the sebaceous glands, onto the finger-tips. Sebum is latin for
> 'grease'and will help smooth the tips,especially if you have an
> 'oily' skin.
> An alternative to this , for a guitarist, was to place a small blob
> of
> 'vaseline' on the upper bout of the guitar for occasional
> application during
> performance.
> regards
> Charles Browne
>
>
>
