I like nails, the sound of nails. I like nylon strings. Who knows what they would have used if they had modern strings, 600 sandpaper, and diamond files, not to mention super glue.
I always think the point is to make pleasing music and have fun. It doesn't matter to me how anyone plays. Do what makes you happy and have fun. Allan -----Original Message----- >From: "Mayes, Joseph" <[email protected]> >Sent: Dec 10, 2013 11:23 AM >To: Bruno Correia <[email protected]>, List LUTELIST <[email protected]> >Subject: [LUTE] Re: Bream Collection... I just noticed > >I play the lute, archlute and vihuela with nails for the same reason that I >play the classical guitar with nails: because it sounds better! >Of course, by that I mean it sounds better to me. Nails give the attack a >precision that flesh does not. It also comes closer, IMHO to the sound >usually described in historical sources as desirable on lute - silvery, >tinkling, etc. >Many sources tell us not to use nails - which they wouldn't have bothered to >do if people were not doing it that way. >I don't play with flesh, I don't ride my horse to the gig, and I don't >attend any bear-bating. > > >My $.02 > >Joseph mayes > > >On 12/10/13 11:05 AM, "Bruno Correia" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Here we go again with the nails issue. There are many sources >> describing the use of flesh as the best way to sound upon the lute, >> however, the use of nails was certainly a possibility. But only because >> three cats used it doesn't mean it was the general taste of those >> times. Just because Jimi Hendrix played with his teeth doesn't >> mean that everyone does it today. I could only justify the nails if I >> still played the classical guitar, otherwise what benefit would it >> bring? >> 2013/12/10 Martin Shepherd <[1][email protected]> >> >> Well, there's Piccinini, who recommends playing with nails, and >> Mace, who says that some people do it and think it's the best way, >> but he says it might be OK in an ensemble but doesn't like it for >> solo playing. There may be others - Weiss? Vihuela references? I'm >> sure others can help. >> Martin >> >> -- >> >> References >> >> 1. mailto:[email protected] >> >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > > >
