This is precisely what I've been missing. I've been playing for around 10 years, but I'm of that breed that came from classical guitar, so I've been doing thumb-out technique (which is essentially guitar) on the lute. The problem is, there are passages that I'm sure would be easier and sound better if I could do thumb-in technique. After 30 years of guitar, it's SOOO hard putting my pinky on the sound board, though. The idea of allowing the hand to swing with the pinky as an anchor really does help.

Hi Neil, Glad you're getting on well. I am using different fingers here -- you have a choice, depending on how big your hand is. You can either use fingers 3 + 4 or 2 + 4 (note that we don't count the thumb on the left hand). I would suggest that whilst 'jumping' from one end of the lute is an option it is probably best avoided. I'm sorry it's not particularly clear in the video. Let me know if you have any other questions about it. Alex

Hi Alex. All going well with the intro section so far, but struggling halfway through the fifth of the five pieces for left hand without rhythm - getting from 'd' fret on 6th course to 'd' fret on first course. I can't quite see in the video how you achieve this? Are you using different fingers, or even holding down both 'd' frets simultaneously with two different fingers to make the transition between the two notes easier? Completely new to plucked instruments, so this is possibly a technique I'm just not used to! Thanks.

I really enjoyed this one, although due to my small hands I had to use 2nd and 3nd fingers at bar 6 for the Bb's on the 1st and 6th courses (not 3rd and 4th fingers like you). At the beginning of the previous bar I still find it smoother to use thumb and 2nd rather than thumb and 1st, although I know you are not supposed to on adjacent courses. Also, I was confused as to the author of the piece, because it says Pierre Blondeau at the top but Pierre Attaingnant at the bottom. Is there a reason for this? Thanks, Adrian

Really enjoyed mashing through this praeludium - it’s a great warm up exercise for both hands! Thanks so much for another brilliant January challenge.

Sounds a bit like an electric guitar to me :-). And yes, I made it to the end, although there's still a lot of practice needed to make it all a bit more fluent. No matter, there's a whole new year to practice, so hope to join again next year. Thank you so much Alex, for all the effort.