Thanks for your reply, Howard. I obviously need to look into the differences between these two right hand positions more (though, as someone pointed out, there are really more positions than just these two). But, I am making a basic assumption (based upon a limited amount of reading) that a style of thumb-under technique was in general use before a style of thumb-over technique evolved and became also generally used. Also, that this later style did evolve at the same time that more bass courses were being added to the lute. From that, I've arrived at the assumption that something about the thumb-over style made it easier to deal with the added bass courses. Not that simple, perhaps. . .
Might I ask you why you've chosen to use thumb-over as opposed to thumb-under? Ned -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html