Subject: [LUTE] guitar stringing
It is common practice to string the baroque guitar with the treble strings
of the 4th and 5th courses on the thumb side of the course. This is
because both courses tend to be used primarily as if they were treble
strings and having them this way makes these stand out.
The only 17th century source to mention the practice is Ruiz de Ribayaz.
However there are 2 or 3 mid-18th century sources which clearly indicate
that the guitar is strung in this way. By this date this arrangement was
not really necessary for the kind of music being written for the guitar so
it is probably a feature that has lingerd on from the past.
Hope that is helpful.
Monica
Talking of stringing, where does the idea come from of having the octave
string on guitars uppermost (i.e. towards the ceiling). It seems common
practice.
Nigel
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