Lute - Volte by Praetorius

This is my new 8 course Renaissance lute! It was made in 1977, but I just got it last night. I have been playing the lute for ONE day now, so to say I am a beginner is an understatement.

I sporadically messed around on the classical guitar a couple years back, but it never went anywhere or took lessons, so this is not the first time picking up a fretted instrument. This is why I'm not a TOTAL klutz playing this thing.

Obviously there is a LOT of work that needs to be done. PLEASE comment/rate. Any help I can get with my technique would be immensely beneficial.

This first lute video is dedicated to my friend Luthval, whose lute expertise has been tremendously helpful to me.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• lute
• renaissance
• volte
• luth
• dance
• praetorius
• guitar

[Mod74]

Let me get this straight: You play classical guitar for 8 months and then put it down for a while. Then you got an 8 course lute and in ONE day learned how to tune it up, work the pegs and play this piece? You're either completely full of do-do or a musical genius.

It looks like it has fixed frets?

[GaleoDeus]

Why is this difficult to believe? Guitar was a side thing, but I got past the ugly stage. I pick this thing up, and I'm not starting "ugly". Also, do you have any idea how easy this piece is? And, if you notice my other videos, I don't just play the lute, so this video was not some random thing I did on a whim.

I'm sorry, but if you think the components of a musical genius include being able to figure out how to tune an instrument within a day, well then I guess I am a genius :)

[GaleoDeus]

Oh, and no this does not have fixed frets. No real lutes do. It had really old frets on at the time when I got it (looked like they hadn't been replaced in many years). I have new ones on now, and I've learned how to temper the instrument by moving them where I see fit.

[Mod74]

What do you mean by starting ugly?

I'm a classical guitarist and I have a Baroque lute.  What is your system for the frets? Do you temper them for the key or do you just use equal temperament?

You do take less time then typical to learn things so be happy!

[GaleoDeus]

I simply meant starting "ugly" as if I were to just pick up the instrument. Obviously it would have been impossible to do this on one day had I not played classical guitar prior.

I temper the frets to favor G, A, F, and C major and all the relative minors. I do this by lowering the 2nd, 4th, and 7th frets. If a piece pf music is not in one of these keys, I simply transcribe it. I really am not a fan of equal temperament, even for piano, let alone the lute.

And thanks for the compliment!

[Brucis51]

Dear Galeo,

It is absolutely impossible to perform such a music after 1 day of playing the lute.

I don't believe you!!! I have my own reasons for this, I know what I'm talking about.

Or you are a genius?

[GaleoDeus]

In my description I've mentioned that I played classical guitar I while ago. I played for about 8 months but stopped about year ago for medical reasons.

But, honest to God, I'd had my lute one day when I made this video, never before having played one.

[pikulicluka]

@GaleoDeus What exactly does tempering mean? Could you please explain this unheard phenomenon to me?

[ninebreaker21]

@girlswithguitars859 There is no evidence that the Biblical dulcimer resembles the Appalachian. It's most likely an etymological confusion. The Appalachian dulcimer most likely derives from simple European zithers such as the scheitholdt, hummel, epinettes des vosges, langeleik.

Forgive the off-topic post.

[ninebreaker21]

@NonstopRam Theory helps inform any transition, but there are other differences between the lute and guitar to be accounted for, such as playing position, right hand technique, string scale length, tension and spacing, double courses vs. single, absence/presence of fingernails, transposition, chord voicings, tablatures that either replace numbers with letters or are "upside-down", and the Renaissance stylistic idiom. Lutes are very delicate instruments too!

[MegaCoyoteUgly]

I wanna play lute soooo baaad....xD

You sound beautiful, mister! I'm guessing that lutes are not so easy to come by, but I will practice my guitar and music theory, so maybe someday.....;)

[wolfischer]

Amazing! If I could play like this after six months I would be happy.

[hmgx2012]

You have red hair, and play the lute like that after one day of practicing? Seriously, if anyone made a movie of "The name of the wind", by Patrick Rothfuss, you would be the perfect Kvothe.

[NonstopRam]

Its called music theory :O

The lute's only difference to guitar is tuning and number of strings.

[Darkboy2525]

oww my ! .. you play the lute to ? wouw .. amazing really !! and you like Bach he !? would be COOL to hear the LUTE prelude from you from bach on the lute, as well as on the piano !!!!!! I could send you the sheets with fingering if you wish ? amazing job really ! love your interpetations !

[dafeltre]

This looks like one of those EMS lutes. Is it? If so, how do you like it?

[hb1014]

Dang those things still exist?