Hi Neil: Your transition method is fine if it worked: If it ain't broke don't fix it.
However making the change from twelve string Guitar to Lute is an interesting caveat. Lute strings are very soft in comparison to steel strung twelve string Guitars. Most people I know play 12 string with a plectrum and not the fingers unless they use finger picks. Your big problem that I foresee is in leering how to finesse the more fragile Lute strings so that they do not rattle together or rattle against the fret boards. It is likely that for a while you are going to be over-playing the Lute trying to make it as loud as a Guitar. You will have to try to learn to appreciate the quiet and subtle sound of the Lute. Once you get to that point you will discover that there are a host of unique tonal shades possible with this instrument in shaping the voicing of the music and creating an appropriate mood. I hope I am not dumping too much information on you or I am preaching to the choir in that you already know this stuff. Someone reading may not know. If you are into athletics you can look at it this way. Guitar is like Roman Greco wrestling, taking a great deal of skill coupled with strength and force. The Lute is like gymnastics, taking a great deal of skill, and strength but lacking the force. With your previous experience I am sure your sensibilities are tuned to getting music out of an instrument, but remember this comparison. Playing a Lute like a Guitar is like cleaning a piece of porcelain with a hammer. Vance Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Narada" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'vance wood'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Lute List'" <[email protected]>; "'John Scott'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 10:31 AM Subject: RE: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > Hi John, > > I picked up the Lute about 8 months ago after playing the guitar for > nearly 40 years ( I still play it ) so I share your frustrations. One > thing that speeded up my transition and helped my technique was to get > hold of my 12 string and tune it to lute e.g. G strings to F# capo at > the third, this helped me get used to the feel of the strings on the > Lute and then I practiced pieces using the 'Thumb Under ' technique for > a few weeks & then went back to the Lute, it helped me a hell of a lot, > but I'm not sure how the 'traditionalists' would view this advice. It > worked for me. > > This is a great list to be on. Everybody is extremely helpful and quite > willingly pass on tips and links etc, I have gained a lot from the > members. > > Best Regards > > Neil Woodhouse > > -----Original Message----- > From: vance wood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 28 April 2007 15:00 > To: Lute List; John Scott > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > > Hi John: > > As to restringing the Lute: I agree, and I do prefer unison tuning for > English music. However understanding that the Lute is new to you I > would > suggest that you leave the Octaves on the bases for the time being. > > The big problem in making the transition from Guitar to Lute is getting > used > to striking both strings in a course. If you leave the octaves on you > will > know this is being accomplished at least with the base strings, the > trebles > and tenors are an entirely different issue. > > It is here that your right hand technique is going to have to evolve and > > change. You are probably playing as of now with a right hand trained for > the > Guitar; wrist bent down and thumb extended. This technique will work > but > you will eventually find that it is very difficult to activate both > strings > in a course in this way. Most Renaissance music was played with the > "Thumb > in technique" where the thumb is more toward the inside of the hand and > the > fingers are extended. > > The idea is to activate the strings with the pinky side surface of the > fingers with the joints relaxed enough so that both strings are > activated at > once. With Guitar technique you are generally using the thumb side > surface > of the finger tips where it is easy to strike one string in the pair. > It > gets complicated and a competent teacher would be a great help to you. > > Don't get frustrated, just practice your scales and simple tunes, if you > can > find some, slowly with a relaxed posture in the hands and concentrate on > the > sound of the two strings struck together. > > Vance Wood. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 4:25 AM > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > > >> Dear Andreas (and others) >> >> I'm very new to this list (2 days) and very new to the lute (1 week > ago >> I got an 8-course 'student' lute) >> >> Andreasm I was going to sit quietly a while longer and say nothing, > but >> seeing your message makes me want to say a big 'thank you' for your >> little book. I got a copy just yesterday, and I can see that not only >> am I going to learn a lot from it, but also it's an absolute delight > to >> browse through it because of the many photographs. >> >> >> >> And since I've now come out of hiding, a few words to say 'hello' to > the >> group (and ask a few things that are already troubling me). >> >> I live in Northern Ireland. For several years I've been playing lute >> music on guitar. I've always wanted to try the real thing, but lute >> prices were out of my financial range. Now I have one - and it's much >> MUCH more difficult to play than I expected. >> >> Foolishly, I assumed that after 30 minutes of playing, I would get > used >> to the differences, and would be playing the pieces as easily as I > play >> them on guitar... NOT SO! The technique is clearly going to be very >> different, and I need to become a beginner again! >> >> But, a few quick questions... >> >> What can I use to tighten the tuning pegs? One has a tendency to slip >> every time I try to adjust the tuning. The lute came with a little >> piece of black wax labelled 'Peg Paste', but it looks like it might >> lubricate the peg rather than add traction. What is the best material >> for a) giving pegs more friction and b) giving them *less* friction? >> >> Secondly, my lute has the bass strings all tuned in octaves. I mostly >> play Dowland, and seem to recall that he said octave tuning was >> 'contrary to the laws of music'. This makes me inclined to restring > my >> lute with all unison tuning, and I'm wondering if this will > drastically >> affect the tension and do something awful to the lute! >> >> Actually I have lots of questions, but I've already gone on far too >> long, so I'll shut up now! >> >> Thanks! >> >> John Scott >> >> >> >> >> Andreas Schlegel wrote: >>> Dear Josh >>> >>> It's not usual to make advertising, but in this case, it could be >>> helpful for you: >>> >>> I wrote and published a book (end of December 2006) with the title >>> "The Lute in Europe. A History to Delight". It's just a book for a >>> person like you who like to get an overview on all the different >>> types of lute, the ideas behind the several forms of lutes etc. Have >>> a look on my homepage www.lutecorner.ch under "NEW..." >>> >>> It depends from the country where you live which way will be the >>> cheapest one to buy it. You will find informations there. >>> >>> Have a nice day! >>> >>> Andreas >>> >>> >>> >>> The Lute Corner >>> Andreas Schlegel >>> Eckstr. 6 >>> CH-5737 Menziken >>> Schweiz >>> +41 (0)62 771 47 07 >>> www.lutecorner.ch >>> >>> Am 27.04.2007 um 21:54 schrieb Josh Winters: >>> >>> >>>> 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 >
