Holding of the instrument
Till the end of the XVth century the lute was played exclusively by
the plectrum. Approximately near 1500 the kind of sound producing changed
for the fingers playing. The appearance of the instrument changed too.
At first sounds were produced by the thumb and forefinger of the right
hand, later were added the third and the fourth fingers. With the changing
of sound producing technique the luteist plays sitting.
Left Hand
In most cases sign (+) was used for the left hand, it was on the left
of the letter (note) and indicated that this note must hold max long
until the movement is finished. Cross was used in German tabulature.
Like it is the application of the sign (*) which was set before or after
the letter.
Indication for the left hand fingering are seldom in tabulatures. In
most cases they are only in textbooks.
For example, Neusidler uses for left hand indications points
above the letters:
- forefinger
- third finger
- fourth finger
- little finger
Ganassi (Lettione Seconda 1543) uses also points but in the following
way:
- forefinger
- third finger
- fourth finger
- little finger
Ganassi uses in the tabulature the left and the right hand simultaneously
as the single fingering set, what makes the decoding not easy.
At
the same time into the French tabulature are entered numbers (1 - forefinger,
2 - third finger etc.)
Judenkunig doesn't use fingering versions for the left hand, he explains
theoretically which fingers must press strings (see the illustration).
Right hand
The best pinch, by the words of Baron is: Centro spatii - between the
stand and the star, approximately 1/5 mensure.
In Judenkunigs tabulatures, the spur in the above cross line of the
rhythmical symbol is placed for the forefinger designation:

Pinch of the third and forefinger..
Ornamentic signs and other.
Different decorations were practically not indicated in tabulatures. They
were presented in playing practice. The performer applied them and enriched
the playing with such decorations according to his taste, experience and
playing practice.
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