Hi Morgan, I am in a similar situation than you, i.e., an amateur with guitar experience. Like you I asked myself if it would be worth and manageable to learn thumb under technique. It is. Take a good lute teacher, put some initial effort into it and you will be surprised how quickly and smoothly you will get into it! It's a really exciting experience! I consider it really enlightening to learn about all these diverse techniques, tablatures, instruments, music... at the beginning every new thing looks so difficult. But some practice helps, makes things easier as anticipated - and you have another insight at least, a widening of your horizon regarding knowledge as well as skill and musical diversity.
Best Franz ------------------------------------ Dr. Franz Mechsner Hanse Institute for Advanced Study Lehmkuhlenbusch 4 D-27753 Delmenhorst/Bremen GERMANY E-mail: [1][email protected] Phone: +49 (0)4221 9160-215 Fax: +49 (0)4221 9160-179 __________________________________________________________________ Von: [email protected] im Auftrag von morgan cornwall Gesendet: Mi 17.03.2010 19:51 An: lute Betreff: [LUTE] should i learn thumb-under technique? Dear Individual and Collective Wisdom, I am an amateur guitarist of about 25 years. I play fingerstyle acoustic, electric, and classical guitar. Because of my other hobbies, such as gardening, I gave up playing with nails some years ago and strictly play with my fingertips. Last year I commissioned a 7-course student lute from Stephen Harris and Sandi Barber, and it is nearing completion. I intend to play renaissance music on this instrument. I have wanted a lute for many years so I am quite excited. From following this list, reading lute tutors, searching the internet, and watching footage of lute players I realize that there aren't strictly thumb-under and thumb-out techniques, but all the shades in between. Currently my technique is very rooted in classical guitar technique, and my thumb never crosses under my other fingers. I have limited time to devote to music, and limited time to devote to learning lute technique. I am not in a rush to learn how to play, but I would like to make the best use of the time I have. Given my circumstances, would you recommend that I learn thumb-under technique? Does it make more sense to use this technique from the start, or should I focus on the other aspects of lute technique? If I don't learn thumb-under from the get go, will this just be more to unlearn later? Should I not even worry about using thumb-under? Thank you in advance, morgan -- To get on or off this list see list information at [2]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. mailto:[email protected] 2. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
