As someone who plays both thumb in and out, I'm surprised at the suggestion that thumb out is harder. In my experience, the fact that the right hand is static in thumb out playing makes the business of integrating chords with single lines very much easier, especially when I'm playing the nice 8 course Martin Shepherd made for me!
There is no great mystery about thumb out-it is the technique everyone used 30 years ago, but discarded. We are just not used to it today. If we have difficulties now, it could have something to do with modern instruments being optimised for the earlier technique. As an example, I have played quite a number of 7-10 course lutes which have been set up with more space between the courses than typical historical instruments. This can make thumb under playing easier, but makes crossing strings much harder for the thumb out player. Martin (Eastwell) On 15/12/07 09:44, "Martin Shepherd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear All, > > I just found that I wrote this (in the context of explaining thumb-in, > thumb-out) a while ago: > >> Thumb-out is more difficult, and I think we have some way to >> go before we really master it (though Nigel North seems to have sorted >> it out). It is further complicated by the "correct" position of the >> hand being so close to the bridge, a position which usually yields >> disappointing results, whatever kind of strings are used. But we're >> working on it..... > > Well, working on it indeed. Rob MacKillop has just recorded a piece > with the little finger on the bridge, and while I'm not so keen on the > sound as on the first sound clip on the same lute, it seems to work - > see www.rmguitar.info/Maler.htm > > Has anyone else tried this? > > Best wishes, > > Martin > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
