Re: new standard tuning

[pycraft@elec.gla.ac.uk (Dr Michael P. Hughes)]

>orry a viola de gamba as you say as 7 strings since Mr de Saintes
>Colombes, and is fretted instrument tuned in fourth.
>
>Olivier Malhomme Viole-de-gambe addicted for a long time.

According to "Musical Instruments of the Western World" (1966) it's got 6.
Another great reference for this is the 1667 (not a typo!) work "The
Division-Viol, or The Art of Playing Extempore upon a Ground" by
Christopher Simpson.  He puts the tuning as DGCEAD.  (Division-Viol was the
English name for the Viola de Gamba)

Mike 
in the 52nd state,
and 100 yards from a very well-equipped University Library.