> The biggest thing is it seems
> impossible to hold. The thing has no
> guitar-like lap thing and just slides
> around. Do you use a strap? How do you
> hold this thing?
Besides a strap, I use a small "pillow" between my right
upper arm (above the elbow) and lute, and also a
small 6 inch "stay" from the strap button to my right
waist. But everyone is different. Some people
use nothing but a foot stool and a non-skid cloth
across the lap.
Nothing will hold the lute perfectly
stable unless you control the contact
points which support the lute: left hand, belly, right arm,
lap (?), and little finger of the right hand.
> First of all, how do you pluck both strings of a
> course?
1. Relax the last joint of the RH finger,
2. Get as much skin on the strings as possible,
3. During practice, de-tune one member of the course, so
that you can easily hear success or failure.
4. Practice simple open-string notes, and then carefully
transfer what you learn to your repertoire.
5. Practice slowly: the semi-joke is: one note on
Tuesday, the next note on Wednesday.
6. Sustained organized daily practice is almost essential.
7. Patience. It's hard.
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