> I don't understand the point of No. 1, to keep the fingerboard back. It > seems as though many players keep the fingerboard too far back as it is, > making life more difficult for the right hand.
According to my instructor, the point is to lessen bend in the left wrist (assuming you are right handed). My instructor says that cellists (or, here, I guess, gambists) have an instrument whose neck is perfectly positioned (near the player's neck). He is a very good sight reader (cruising through my simple compositions), and has other impressive skills, so I try to listen to him. Also, it is unpleasant to get him yelling at me, despite the fact that he thinks it's his job. To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
