Hi Josh: Generally the only difference in tuning between an eight course and a six course instrument is in the two additional base strings, the other six are identical and no change of strings is necessary---to my knowledge. There is a difference between unison tuning and octave tuning but this is an on-going debate and basically changes nothing over all. Some of the latter ten course music used a different tuning system but I believe that the strings remain the same.
Vance Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josh Winters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "vance wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 5:28 PM Subject: RE: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > Hi Vance, > > Thank you so much for the reply. > > That is interesting about the versatility of the 8 course lute. Is it a > difficult thing to set it up for 6 or 7 course music, or even 10 (like > changing strings, for instance)? > > Also, would it do well with music by John Johnson or John Dowland? > > Thank you again for your help, > > Josh > > > -----Original Message----- > From: vance wood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 2:16 PM > To: Lute List > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > > Dear Josh: > > My personal preference would be for an eight course Lute. I have used > an > eight course instrument for most of my life and due to my musical > interests > I have found it more than adequate for me. I play six course music quite > > easily on it, seven course music is even easier with an eight course > instrument because you do not necessarily have to finger the seventh > course > as is common in a lot of seven course music. > > The good part is that you can retune the eight course and play most ten > > course music on it. If there is any one size that fits all in the Lute > world it would be the eight course Lute. Unlike many on this list I > cannot > afford to purchase a new instrument every time I want to move up in > period > music. > > Lutes are not the most economical instruments in the world. All are > hand > made unless they come from Pakistan, and that's another story, you can't > buy > a Fender, or Gibson, or Gretch Lute. You cannot go to your local music > store and pick one of many Lutes they have on display. > > Most of the time you have to contract with a reliable maker to have one > made > for you, and wait a year or two for it to be made. You may be > fortunate > enough to stumble across someone who is looking to sell an instrument. > > Then of course there is the issue of strings. You could drive yourself > crazy trying to figure all of that mess out, opinions are as varied and > passionate as the number of different products you could choose from. > Suffice it to say Lute strings are not cheap either. > > But once you have the instrument of your choice it will change your > life. > > Vance Wood. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Josh Winters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 3:54 PM > Subject: [LUTE] Hello! A couple questions. > > >> Hello everyone, >> >> >> >> I'm new to this mailing list, having only been here for about a week. >> >> >> >> I do not play the lute, but I have always enjoyed the sound of lute >> music, and over time I've become interested in learning to play. >> However, during my research I have found too many conflicting answers > to >> my questions. I hope nobody minds me asking them here. >> >> >> >> To the best of my knowledge, the music I enjoy the most is from > England, >> approximately mid 1500s, maybe even most of that century. If I wanted > to >> start by learning the music of that period, which lute would you >> recommend? I know that different eras would require different setups, > so >> I want to make sure I don't buy the wrong thing and get stuck playing >> other music (although, I'd probably still enjoy it). >> >> >> >> Also, would you recommend a different mailing list? >> >> >> >> Thank you very much for your help, and I apologize if I was a bother, >> >> >> >> Josh >> >> >> -- >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >> >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/778 - Release Date: > 4/27/2007 >> 1:39 PM >> >> > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/778 - Release Date: 4/27/2007 > 1:39 PM > >
