Thanks for all the replies. Time to start experimenting!

On Oct 3, 2013, at 3:57 AM, Martyn Hodgson <[email protected]> wrote:

>   Dear Bill,
>   Most early representations show theorboes being held quite high up
>   and resting on the right thigh rather than between the legs as a modern
>   'classical' guitarist.  Further, many early extant instruments have
>   fixing points for a cord/strap/ribbon: a button (or similar) at the end
>   of the body and one on the back of the first pegbox roughly where the
>   pegs are. Incidentally I can't see evidence of a practice of sitting on
>   the strap end.
>   By resting the instrument on the right thigh (similar to a flamenco
>   player's posture rather than a modern 'classical' guitarist-  ie
>   inbetween the legs) and using such a strap I find all one needs is
>   something like a rough thick chamois leather placed on the thigh to
>   avoid any possibility of the instrument's lower side sliding forward.
>   No doubt, as has been suggested before (Bob Spencer I think), the heavy
>   coats of earlier players served much the same purpose.
>   It is also helpful to hold a theorbo more upright than a lute so that
>   the centre of gravity is closer in - it also helps a bit in playing
>   large left hand stretches. I've seen quite a few newcomers to the
>   theorbo struggle mightily with trying to play a theorbo in an almost
>   horizontal position as they play the lute and who soon find it much
>   easier when it is held more upright.
>   regards,
>   Martyn
> 
>   From: William Samson <[email protected]>
>   To: Lute List <[email protected]>; Daniel Shoskes
>   <[email protected]>
>   Sent: Wednesday, 2 October 2013, 22:42
>   Subject: [LUTE] Re: Thigh support for theorbo
>     Interesting question. Do we know how it was done back in the day?
>     Bill
>     Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
>       __________________________________________________________________
>     From: Daniel Shoskes <[1][email protected]>;
>     To: Lute List <[2][email protected]>;
>     Subject: [LUTE] Thigh support for theorbo
>     Sent: Wed, Oct 2, 2013 9:35:50 PM
>     Dear Theorbistas: has anyone ever tried one of the classical guitar
>     rests/cushions/supports that many guitarists now use instead of a
>     footstool for their theorbo? Some have suction cups or clamps which I
>     wouldn't be thrilled to use on my instrument, but some, like the
>     Dynarette don't.
>     I'm still struggling to find an ergonomic position and the "sitting
>   on
>     the strap" options just don't fit my body.
>     Thanks
>     Danny
>     To get on or off this list see list information at
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>   References
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>   --
> 
> References
> 
>   1. mailto:[email protected]
>   2. mailto:[email protected]
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> 


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