...but it's OK, the neighbours can't hear.
These tracks were recorded in a converted garage on a PC using a decent but not too expensive microphone and the free Audacity software.
I have found that recording yourself playing is an excellent way to learn how bad you sound, but it does make you improve.
The lute pieces were played on a classical guitar. For most of them it was tuned like a Renaissance lute, i.e. the third string was lowered from G to F# and a capo was fitted to the third fret.
The other tracks were recorded using the classical guitar plus a folk guitar, an electric guitar, a 3/4 classical guitar and percussion via an electronic drum pad set.
A shortened adaptation of a duet by Alfonso Ferrabosco (c.1575–1628), edited from a free tab.
My attempt at a western theme. Make up your own story. Maybe a hot, dusty town. A lone stranger rides in, falls for a girl, gets caught up in a feud, shoots the baddies and rides off into the sunset.
By Vincenzo Capirola (1474 – c.1548). Played without a capo with the 3rd string at F# and the 6th string tuned down to D.
An anonymous 16th century duet. Lutenist
Lynda Sayce has made a pair of excellent
YouTube videos playing each part separately
so that a learner can play
along. Part 1 Part 2
By John Dowland (1563-1626). Here given a bit of an electronic tweak on the repeats.
Another of my own creations. It begins like a 16th-century dance known as the passamezzo moderno or modern half-step before getting a bit more lively. The passamezzo form is still used in many musical genres such as Bluegrass. Led Zeppelin's 'Hot Dog' is another example.
By Francesco Canova da Milano (1497–1543). There is an excellent tutorial on this by guitarist Bradford Werner, with a tab available.
Two anonymous pieces rolled into one, nos. 54 and 55 in the Lute Society's 58 Very Easy Pieces for Renaissance Lute.
A Renaissance piece by English composer William Byrd (1543-1623), originally for keyboard.
An anonymous tune from the 16th century, made famous by ice cream vans throughout the country.
By Anthony Holborne (c.1545-1602).
My popped-up version of Mr Holborne's 16th-century hit. See previous track.
Rod Shaw, 2023