I’m glad to you’re reading this, because that means you have an interest in shopping for an Oud! The Oud is an interesting instrument with a protracted history. I’ll offer you some options and ideas when looking in your first Oud.
TYPES OF OUDS
You’ll first have to know what kind of Oud you wish to buy, because there are a number of types of Ouds available: Arabic Ouds, Turkish Ouds, Iraqi Ouds, and Iranian Ouds.
ARABIC OUDS
Arabic Ouds are by far the most well-liked Ouds available. You can find these used in the music of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Levant. They’re known for a nice, deep, round sound, with very low sustain. Low sustain is just not a bad thing, in truth, it is preferred sound. There is a very wide range of quality that may be present in this category, from decorative trinkets to exquisite professional instruments.
TURKISH OUDS
Turkish Ouds are quite a distinct animal. Turkish Ouds are brighter as they are tuned at a higher pitch than Arabic Ouds. They are also built with a thinner soundboard making a lighter and brighter tone and timbre. A good friend of mine who builds Ouds will even sand down his soundboard a little bit just to get more of that Turkish sound. They also attempt to reduce the amount of bracing used on the soundboard so it resonates more. The Turkish Oud is a minimum of an inch shorter in scale than the Arabic Ouds as well. The nut is sort of non existent creating a tone with more buzz. The distinction between Arabic Ouds and Turkish Ouds is similar to the distinction between Classical guitars and Flamenco guitars.
Turkish Ouds may be a good wager for a beginner because the motion will likely be low making it straightforward to play. Additionally, cheap factory constructed models are typically quite trustworthy and well-built.
IRAQI OUDS
Iraqi Ouds might have a floating bridge which means that the bridge will not be fixed to the wood face. This also gives a brighter tone. The bridge is just like the development of some Mandolins and Irish Bouzoukis, the place the strings are hooked up to the bottom of the instrument instead of the bridge. This is the favorred Oud of Nasser Shamma and Munir Bashir. I personally love the sound of these Ouds, but some folks don’t like them either. All of it will depend on your choice and the sound that you just want to make.
IRANIAN OUDS
Iranian Ouds are once more a very totally different breed. They are called Barbat in Farsi and are the culmination of research into the design of historical Ouds in Middle Japanese artwork and literature. Apparently, the Oud was an vital instrument in Iran however for some reason fell out of use in Iran and have become the most important instrument in Arab music. The Barbat was reinvented in just the last 30 years in Iran by one specific master luthier. He made the body smaller permitting more playability further down the neck. The bowl form is less wide, however slightly deeper, making it easier to hold and giving the bass notes a punchy sound. The bass sound is deep, punchy and powerful, however the high finish is bit weaker than Arabic Ouds. It fits well into the sound required for Iranian music and ensembles.
ACTION
Generally, when shopping for an Oud an vital half is making certain it has low action. Action is the time period for the space between the fingerboard and the strings. If the strings are close to the the fingerboard it will be easier to play. This is important because it will make or break your expertise and really dampen your temper, specifically when placing in a number of observe attempting to improve your technique. An Oud with high action might be hard to progress beyond the basics. Ouds are not constructed with truss rods like guitars so the neck shouldn’t be adjustable. It is higher to see the Oud for yourself to find out how the action is. If you’re shopping for online, ask for photos of the neck from the side in case you are in doubt.
USE THE PROPER STRINGS
It will be important not to put too heavy gauge strings on your Oud, particularly if you have purchased a cheap Oud. Oud strings of many types and gauges may be ordered online so don’t risk putting heavy classical guitar strings on it. Additionally, should you purchase an Arabic Oud, don’t put D’Addario Turkish Oud strings on it. They’re meant for a unique tuning, and for those who use that tuning you could put more pressure in your Oud than necessary.
LOW QUALITY OR HIGH QUALITY
If you’re already a musician and know a thing or two about tone woods, then use the standards you know greatest when looking for an honest Oud. Higher quality Ouds will naturally use ebony tuning pegs, ebony fingerboard, and a strong spruce high, which could also be made of two pieces of spruce glued and braced together. Different woods used for the bowl back are maple, walnut, palisander, and padouk. In the event you can inform the Oud is made out of those woods, then you are moving into more critical craftsmanship.
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