Ok, I'm into week two of learning to play the lute, and already I'm fervently wishing there was a teacher (or even another player) in this part of the world. Instead I've got myself a copy of Diana Poulton's tutor.
I feel like I'm having to unlearn all my 'good' guitar habits! I've started keeping my pinky 'glued' to the soundboard (shiver!); I've even trimmed my precious right-hand nails (and how traumatic THAT was!)... But what's driven me back to the list is a question about right-hand thumb technique. It feels very odd (and a bit inefficient and counter-intuitive) to have the thumb bouncing around so much, playing a base note, then immediately jumping up to the first or second course to play one of the melody notes, then down for another bass note, and so on. I keep wanting to use my thumb for the bass notes, and my first two fingers (guitar style) for the melody line... however, I DO want to learn to play the lute 'properly', so I'm going to try to stick with it. But it's driving me crazy! I'm just wondering - do any of the sources give a reason for this kind of thumb technique, or is it just some odd quirk in the evolution of playing? To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
