Ditch the Poulton :) There are lots of youtube videos now where you can see many different styles of playing. dt
At 01:18 PM 8/18/2010, you wrote: > Hello all- > > > > I have a few questions for the experienced players out there who might > be so kind as to answer. I've been working through the Poulton book & > have taken one lute lesson (no teachers within 75 miles of where I > live), and I am still a bit puzzled by the proper right-arm position > when playing. Poulton states that the arm should cross the body of the > lute "about level with the bridge"- I assume that this means that if > one drew an imaginary line extending the bridge to the upper edge of > the face, then the arm should cross near that point. Is this correct? > If so, then if one also keeps the hand in line with the forearm, then > the hand tends to cross the strings at nearly 45 degrees and the elbow > points uncomfortably outward (assuming the lute is held more or less > horizontal). Thumb-under technique is also difficult. Elevating the > headstock helps, but for a long-armed chap like myself the lute ends up > nearly upright, and I figure this is probably not right. > > > > Now, I find having the arm cross at a point just below the upper rear > bout of the body- behind the bridge- to be the most comfortable and > natural. Have I simply misinterpreted Poulton? It seems that there is > a fair amount of variation amongst players in regards to this issue. > Is it a matter of "whatever feels best", and should I not take it that > seriously? > > > > Finally, I find that in whatever position I use, the edge of the face > (where it meets the body) tends to dig into my forearm where it > crosses, and this becomes pretty uncomfortable after a little while. > Is this common & something to get used to, or does it signify that I'm > holding the lute wrong? > > > > Many thanks! > > John (from Ohio) > > -- > > >To get on or off this list see list information at >http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
