Unfortunately, lute teachers aren't exactly commonplace, and that is not an option for where I live (Mississippi). But, with an electronic tuner to tell me when I'm on the right note, it's not really possible to be WRONG when tuning, even if it is not the most perfect way of doing it. I just have to do the best I can using literature.
Whew! Even from the responses there is so much to choose from. Arthur: where could I find a professional lutenist to do that for me? $100 is definitely resonable for such an important decision. Martin: I know that the instrument isn't the only problem oftentimes, and I certainly was willing to accept that I just didn't know something which would enable me to make that stretch...but I was sad to finally admit, after manually stretching my fingers across the strings with the other hand and still finding it a good length away from possible, that I simply had a poor lute. Here is the lute and book I had: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/ethnic/lute.htm I still have the lute, but it's back home in Richmond, VA. Hmm...I considered it, David, but I think I would rather have a new lute, because it would be more personal. =) Unfortunately I don't remember the name of any of the songs I played, although I used to have a couple memorized... Thanks to everyone for your good advice! Hopefully I can find a lutenist to help me choose. To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
