Disclaimer--I am a largely self-taught (with tips from this list!),
falteringly intermediate player. I use strap, footstool and shelf
liner. I enjoy playing, while mindfully trying to approximate
recognized proper technique.
It seems that what has taken me the longest time to get right (or
nearly so) is the balance of comfort, security, and accessibility for
right and left hands. As we are all built to different proportions and
agility, my conclusion is that there is no single right physical
approach to the lute; one needs simply to pay attention to what's
happening between the body and the instrument. A good teacher who can
"read" your body language while playing would be very helpful (Pat
O'Brien could do this kind of thing).
(here ends this 2 cents worth)
Regards,
Leonard Williams
-----Original Message-----
From: Jurgen Frenz <eye-and-ear-cont...@protonmail.com>
To: Leonard Williams <arc...@verizon.net>
Cc: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>
Sent: Sun, May 24, 2020 8:06 am
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lute strap
I find the strap discussion quite interesting especially what Leonhard
Williams just said - it reminds me (and everybody who likes to think
about his/her playing) that the simple position we sit down and hold
the instrument has quite an impact on our playing. As often, there is
no "rule" except that everybody has to figure out how it's real
comfortable to play. I strongly believe that the instrument has to sit
there without any additional effort to hold it, one needs to figure out
how that exactly can be achieved.
Good luck!
âââââââ Original Message âââââââ
On Saturday, May 23, 2020 11:45 PM, Leonard Williams
<[1]arc...@mail.cs.dartmouth.edu> wrote:
> Yes--the shelf liner material works very nicely to de-grease the
piggy!
> I actually use a footstool on the right to get the lute up a little
> higher (thigh under the widest point). Can't say it's improved my
> playing, however.
> Leonard Williams
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Mardinly [2]john.mardi...@asu.edu
> To: howard posner [3]howardpos...@ca.rr.com; Lute List
> [4]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
> Sent: Sat, May 23, 2020 2:47 pm
> Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lute strap
> I've been playing without a strap since 1970. However, I must admit
> that holding the lute is a bit like holding a greased pig. What works
> for me now is rubberized shelf liner:
>
[1][5]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWAPOO1/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&p
d_r
>
d_i=B01LWAPOO1&pd_rd_w=kPNRm&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158
>
c5&pd_rd_wg=FAgbm&pf_rd_r=6BF0CZFPTPEJ3V0B4C0J&pd_rd_r=b4cc3dc9-fcdd-4e
>
91-871f-3a45b2ca6f75&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQlpFOVExWUNKOFBTJ
>
mVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzAxNTgzMVdHTVVXMjg5QjlLUiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzkz
>
MDU1NFFLQzJMQzQzRVIzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGl
> yZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
> Cut out a 15'x15' piece for each thigh, and use a footstool for the
> left leg like guitarists use. The lute is then fairly stable. Makes a
> guitar a bit more stable also. $5 buys enough to last a lifetime.
> A. John Mardinly, Ph.D., P.E.
> Classical Guitarist/Lutenist
>
> > On May 22, 2020, at 4:16 PM, howard posner
>
> <[2][6]howardpos...@ca.rr.com> wrote:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > > On May 22, 2020, at 7:19 AM, Christopher Stetson
>
> <[3][7]christophertstet...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > >
>
> > > Hi, all. I've been playing without a strap since 1974. It is
>
> possible.
>
> >
>
> > Arthur: Ah. Look, the statue. How do get the cup bit to stay where
it
>
> is, unsupported?
>
> >
>
> > Wise Old Bird: It stays there because it's artistically right.
>
> >
>
> > Arthur: What?
>
> >
>
> > WOB: The Law of Gravity isn't as indiscriminate as people often
>
> think. You learn things like that when you're a bird.
>
> >
>
> > --Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (original radio script) Fit the
>
> Tenth
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > To get on or off this list see list information at
>
> >
>
>
[4][8]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.dartmo
uth
>
.edu_-7Ewbc_lute-2Dadmin_index.html&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n
>
1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=T0D
>
BLPWi-JsEl3u9ihtW2Cu9gVo3NkkKh4as-2CmlkM&s=7riCOmG8O7h8gdO6D70sBjwmU8mI
> 2u_3cw-r5nvTuEw&e=
>
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------
>
> References
>
> 1.
[9]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWAPOO1/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_r
d_i=B01LWAPOO1&pd_rd_w=kPNRm&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158
c5&pd_rd_wg=FAgbm&pf_rd_r=6BF0CZFPTPEJ3V0B4C0J&pd_rd_r=b4cc3dc9-fcdd-4e
91-871f-3a45b2ca6f75&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQlpFOVExWUNKOFBTJ
mVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzAxNTgzMVdHTVVXMjg5QjlLUiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzkz
MDU1NFFLQzJMQzQzRVIzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGl
yZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
> 2. mailto:[10]howardpos...@ca.rr.com
> 3. mailto:[11]christophertstet...@gmail.com
> 4.
[12]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.dartmout
h.edu_-7Ewbc_lute-2Dadmin_index.html&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0
n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=T0
DBLPWi-JsEl3u9ihtW2Cu9gVo3NkkKh4as-2CmlkM&s=7riCOmG8O7h8gdO6D70sBjwmU8m
I2u_3cw-r5nvTuEw&e=
--
References
1. mailto:arc...@mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
2. mailto:john.mardi...@asu.edu
3. mailto:howardpos...@ca.rr.com
4. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
5. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWAPOO1/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_r
6. mailto:howardpos...@ca.rr.com
7. mailto:christophertstet...@gmail.com
8. https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.dartmouth
9.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWAPOO1/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01LWAPOO1&pd_rd_w=kPNRm&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=FAgbm&pf_rd_r=6BF0CZFPTPEJ3V0B4C0J&pd_rd_r=b4cc3dc9-fcdd-4e91-871f-3a45b2ca6f75&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQlpFOVExWUNKOFBTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzAxNTgzMVdHTVVXMjg5QjlLUiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzkzMDU1NFFLQzJMQzQzRVIzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
10. mailto:howardpos...@ca.rr.com
11. mailto:christophertstet...@gmail.com
12.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.dartmouth.edu_-7Ewbc_lute-2Dadmin_index.html&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=T0DBLPWi-JsEl3u9ihtW2Cu9gVo3NkkKh4as-2CmlkM&s=7riCOmG8O7h8gdO6D70sBjwmU8mI2u_3cw-r5nvTuEw&e=
