Hi Neil: I was afraid that might be the case but I wrote what I did in case it was not. There are some that may gain benefit from the discourse one way or another.
Vance Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Narada" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'vance wood'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 1:18 PM Subject: RE: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > Hi Vance, > > I think you misunderstood what I said. I am not attempting to play the > Lute like a guitar. I used the 12 string as a placebo to get used to the > feel of multiple strings under my fingers and at the same time use the > thumb under technique to pick the strings, to give both my left and > right hand technique a simple idea of the Lute. I only did this for a > few weeks, but it helped, the Lute felt clumsy to me when I first bought > it, spending a few hours a week playing pieces on the 12 string for me > anyway accelerated the transition process. > > Neil > > -----Original Message----- > From: vance wood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 28 April 2007 17:15 > To: Lute List > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > > 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 >> > > > > > > > -- > 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 >
