"Christopher Schaub" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb: > I haven't heard anyone play > thumb-under faster than top rate classical or flamenco guitarists whose > technique is not that different from thumb-out, especially in regards to imim.
that may be so, but I'm an _average_ lutenist, you see, and I can comfortably reach top speed. Thumb-in allows average lute players to keep up with the others' speed. > I do notice that preparing the bass with the thumb before beginning a run > gives > quite a bit of leverage to allow for some more speed and power with imim. Many > flamenco players do this for power and speed. which has nothing to do with thumb-in/thumb-out, right? > I've also heard many say that > thumb-under is more fluid. Again, I'm not sure if that's really true. to be sure, it's a matter of practicing :) > It just requires more attention to playing legato with the left hand using > thumb-out. would you mind to elaborate? > The only area where I think thumb-under has an advantage is to achieve that > "swing" affect with dance pieces. (...) > I think it's safe to say that thumb-under was generally used for the first 1/3 > of the lute era and thumb-out for the last 2/3. So which is really the > dominant > technique -- or even the technique to be taught? I didn't mean to discuss which technique is preferable but whether or not there are certain technical demands that require thumb-in, or thumb-out, respectively, notwithstanding the well known fact that the shift from one to the other technique did take place. > What would Dowland do with his > students? I think he makes it clear his intentions that he recommends thumb > out. I'd love to find out what made him do so. > It seems that an emphasis on thumb-out with the ability to thumb-under > when really necessary is the most versatile strategy for playing the entire > repertoire. or vice versa, if you don't mind. > I can't see how you can really play Baroque music with thumb under > -- jumping from the trebles to the basses could disrupt the flow and also > interfere with preparing the bass notes. nevertheless, it's required quite often. Have a look into Gaultier's prints, Mouton, Gallot et al. In French baroque lute music, the thumb must be most versatile. Cheers, Mathias -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
