I've always played this Capirola passage with my thumb stopping the Bb on course 6. Also some passages in Newsidler and Francesco da Milano.
As Stephen says, it is a question of having the right 6 course, as this technique is only possible on a narrow neck. Most modern makers who produce copies of the Gerle, which has (I think) a width at the nut of 42mm (and therefore a string band at the nut of less than 40 mm) , widen it to keep their customers happy. I wish they wouldn't, as this makes them much less comfortable for the sort left hand positions often seen in early paintings. Also, I feel left and right hand techniques are related here. Thumb over the top of the neck means that the lute can be comfortably held at a much lower angle, thus making it easier for the early RH position with the forearm nearly parallel to the centreline of the lute. As well as being used by modern electric players, the LH thumb technique was widely used by C19th guitarists, notably Giuliani, who often notates it. The slow movement of his sonata is a very good example. It allows the player to avoid barres, and thus use open strings or stopped notes lower than the fret at which the barre would be placed. Sor speaks disapprovingly of the technique, however, in (I think) his tutor.. Martin E On 21/1/10 19:08, "Stephen Fryer" <[email protected]> wrote: > Leonard Williams wrote: >> I've been working on Capirola's "Baleto da balar bello". The middle section >> has some simple looking but tricky chord shifts which I've been trying in >> various ways to make a smooth transition. Any recommendations? The section >> is below in ascii tab (use a monospace font). The tricky palces are marked >> with an *, but I'm not sure of the accuracy of the marking (e.g., the dotted >> note toward the end belongs at the end--can't seem to find the right font on >> my machine!). It's a Bb chord going to an Em? >> Thanks and regards, >> Leonard Williams > > The problem of fretting the sixth string pretty much goes away if you > have the right 6-course lute and can stop it with your thumb. This is a > common technique with electric guitar and seems to be indicated as a > possibility in the introduction to the Capirola MS ( > http://www.marincola.com/lutebot1.txt ). > > Stephen Fryer > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
