Hi Josh, the 1st to 6th courses of renaissance lutes are always tuned the same (i. e. in fourths except courses 3 to 4 which i a third), notwithstanding how many bass courses are added. Very common is the lute in G: g' - d' - a - f - c - G.
Most modern copies of lutes have a single 1st course whereas the other courses are doubled. The 2nd to 5th courses are pairs of unisons, whereas the 6th course consists of a fundamental and an octave. Additional bass courses likewise consist of fundamentals and octaves. With lutes of seven courses, the 7th course is tuned a fourth below the 6th, in most instances. That would be low D on a lute in G. With lutes of eight courses, the 7th course is tuned a second below the 6th, and the 8th is tuned a fourth below the 6th, in most instances. That would be low F and D, repsectively, on a lute in G. The thing is, you can play almost every piece of renaissance lute music on an 8c lute. You could play just any piece of renaissance lute music on a 10c lute. However, the more bass courses are added, the more changes the sound of the lute as a whole. It starts with the 7th course. But from a practival point of view, the 7c lute will probably be the instrument of choice. -- Best Mathias "Josh Winters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb: > Hi Mathias, > > Thank you very much for the info. While doing my research, I heard it > mentioned that the 7c could be tuned to play 6c music. Is this true? If it > is, would you recommend I start that way? > > I only ask because I will have to stay with one instrument for probably quite > some time (since I'll be breaking the bank to get my first lute as it is). > > Again, thank you so much. I value your advice. > > -Josh > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Mathias Rösel" [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:38 PM > To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions. > > Hello Josh, > > I can't imagine any better place for your questions than this one. May I > cordially welcome you. As for the type of lute about which you are > asking, I'd say a 6c lute is best. On the other hand, it is most > probable that you will run into Mr John Dowland's music one day. As for > that kind of music, you'll be better off with a 7c instrument. My two > cents. > -- > Mathias > > "Josh Winters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb: > > Hello everyone, > > > > > > > > I'm new to this mailing list, having only been here for about a week. > > > > > > > > I do not play the lute, but I have always enjoyed the sound of lute > > music, and over time I've become interested in learning to play. > > However, during my research I have found too many conflicting answers to > > my questions. I hope nobody minds me asking them here. > > > > > > > > To the best of my knowledge, the music I enjoy the most is from England, > > approximately mid 1500s, maybe even most of that century. If I wanted to > > start by learning the music of that period, which lute would you > > recommend? I know that different eras would require different setups, so > > I want to make sure I don't buy the wrong thing and get stuck playing > > other music (although, I'd probably still enjoy it). > > > > > > > > Also, would you recommend a different mailing list? > > > > > > > > Thank you very much for your help, and I apologize if I was a bother, > > > > > > > > Josh To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
