Before inventing new ways of holding an instrument, it's useful to look at what early players actually did. For the lute the following come to mind: - Iconography depicting extended peghead lutes (ie theorboes, archlutes, late german baroque lutes) frequently shows the use of a ribbon/strap running from the base to an attachment point on the rear of the peghead eg from Castaldi (1622) right up to Scheidler(c1800). Most extant early instruments of this type also have attachment points (buttons/slotted fittings). - Many later baroque lutes have two buttons: one at the base and one on the back close to the neck. It has been suggested (Spence) that a chord was passed between the two and looped around a coat button (early coats were much heavier/stiffer than modern). I seen gut strings fastened on a few 18thC lutes but, of course, these cld be later additions. To be frank, I've tried this method and have not been happy with the results - has anybosy else? - rest the lute against a table ( early sources and some iconography) - this also assists the resonance of the instrument (rather like Aguado's 'tripodion'). Finally, it seems to me that most (not all) depictions of lute players show the instrument being held fairly high ie against the lower chest rather than the stomach (rather akin to the flamenco guitarist position compared to that of a modern 'classical' guitarist) with the body resting on the left thigh rather than in the lap. A holding arrangement should allow for this position and posture.
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