Hi all, I've always wondered: under what circumstances was the thumb around the neck to stop the 6th course thought to be an advantage? We see its use sporadically in the 16th century in occasional iconography but I gather it is not (and was not) recommended. Personally I can't do it and still have any facility on other courses--and it's painful. But I see it in contemporary guitar playing so it seems to work for some. Shot in the dark: Were they tuning the 6th course down a step and this trick gave them the 6th at nominal pitch? Sean
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