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Lesson One

Holding the Instrument
There are many ways to hold a lute. In old paintings and engravings you can see a broad variety of lutenists in various playing positions.Standing and Sitting Sitting with Footchair
Your choice for a particular position will depend on your body size, the size of your lute, and your personal aesthetic preferences.
Whatever your choice, two considerations must remain paramount: Your playing position should provide the maximum possible body relaxation; and the left (fingerboard) arm and hand should not be involved in securing the instrument's position. When you sit with an upright posture towards the front of a chair, the lute will touch your body in three places. The first place is your thigh; the second place is your chest and stomach; the third place is your right underarm. Your left arm initially hangs relaxed along side your body. A piece of leather on your thigh can prevent the lute from slipping out of position.

Lesson Two

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homepage / pluck and play / children's corner / six short lute lessons / studies op.19 / studies op. 12 / courses landshut / courses öland / biography