Reading the English language summary (in Lute News 117) of the early journals of the Sociedad de la Vihuela 'Hispanica Lyra', I was again struck by the different right hand plucking techniques evidently reasonably common and widespread in sixteenth century Spain. Principally the use of two right hand digits (either the first and second fingers or the thumb and first finger) ie dos dedos; or the use of just the index finger to strike the string ie dedillo. Over the years I have, unsucessfully, tried to use a sort of free stroke dedillo (similar the index finger strumming but just on one course) but find it very tricky to control the stroke especially on runs across different courses. I recently tried steadying the index with the thumb and this seems to work a lot better - much increased control and accuracy. Indeed, the position is not dissimilar to holding a plectrum between the thumb and first finger - but without actually having a plectrum which place is taken by the index finger. I seem to recall that this technique of steadfying the index with the thumb when playing dedillo was mentioned in some other modern journal and would be grateful for a reference - or my memory may be playing me false! Martyn
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