I rarely use a plectrum, and to get that sound I do the same as you. A
thubnail 'dedillo' on bass strings. Surely there must be a name for it?
It is just so very useful - I can make my lute sound a bit like an oud;
on Guitar I can do the thunder sound in Vivaldi's Summer!
It is good to know that there are many healthy pockets of unorthodoxy
I have recently taken to experimenting with seagull feathers though
(in the absence of eagles and ostriches etc in my locality . A swan
feather might be possible too. The thin or thick end though? In
Gulliver's Travels there was a war between those who opened the narrow
end of their boiled egg first, and those who started on the thick end
Tony C
__________________________________________________________________
From: G. C. <[email protected]>
To: Lutelist <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, 7 June 2014, 20:40
Subject: [LUTE] Re: 15th century duo (left-handers playing
right-handedly)
Hi,
An alternative that works for me is to grow a healthy thumb-nail. Then
pinch
thumb and index together, like as if holding a plectrum and use the
nail as
a plectrum. You can file down the nail to suit your preference of
sound, as
well as strike the course (string) from different angles, and
optionally
press the little finger against the soundboard. Or not.
This method allows for very rapid up-and-down playing and is a more
accurate
alternative to "dedillo" IMO.
It also uses the mechanics of the hand in a "plectrum" way with a more
direct contact with the string.
Of course it goes against all that is "lute" correctness! :) (I have
mainly
used it on single strings).
Any other players who have tried this way out?
G.
----- Original Message -----
From: "WALSH STUART" <[1][email protected]>
To: "Braig, Eugene" <[2][email protected]>; "lutelist Net"
<[3][email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2014 11:06 AM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: 15th century duo (left-handers playing
right-handedly)
> On 06/06/2014 23:06, Braig, Eugene wrote:
>>
>> Groovy! What plectrum did you use here? I use several incarnations
of
>> plectrum depending on era of music and instrument at hand. . . .
And, in
>> spite of my sinistral tendencies, my plectrum, punteado, and
occasional
>> rasgueado efforts are always executed with the right hand.
>
> Eugene I had forgotten that you are left-handed but play (in your
> preferred usage) standard instruments. Is there also a Worshipful
Company
> of Left-Handed Standard Lute Players (i.e. playing right-handedly), I
> wonder?
>
> For a plectrum I'm using a length of guitar string with a bit of
masking
> tape. I gleaned this from a discussion on this list some time. I've
tried
> many kinds of plectrum but me the main issue is plectrum playing
itself,
> rather than the plectrum. How do you get on with playing with a
plectrum
> in your right hand when you are left handed? You have noted that both
> hands equally are involved in complex tasks in playing a plucked
> instrument. But....
>
> Usually in music, if I have realistic goals, I can fairly well come
to be
> able to play things (e.g. quite difficult passages) with careful,
slow
> practice. But this doesn't happen ever with plectrum issues. I can
> practice a troublesome passage countless times over a period of time,
pick
> up the instrument and plectrum and I'll be just as likely to bungle
it...
> or get it right. It's fascinating in an annoying way, really.
>
>
>
> Stuart
>
>
>
>>
>> While Jean-Paul certainly plays it faster, the effect is no more
>> entertaining. Cheers!
>>
>> Best,
>> Eugene
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