Learn how to Buy Your First Oud

I’m glad to you are reading this, because meaning you are interested in shopping for an Oud! The Oud is a fascinating instrument with a protracted history. I’ll offer you some suggestions and suggestions when looking on your first Oud.

TYPES OF OUDS

You will first need to know what kind of Oud you want to purchase, because there are several types of Ouds available: Arabic Ouds, Turkish Ouds, Iraqi Ouds, and Iranian Ouds.

ARABIC OUDS

Arabic Ouds are by far the most popular Ouds available. One can find these used in the music of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Levant. They’re known for a pleasant, deep, round sound, with very low sustain. Low maintain just isn’t a bad thing, in fact, it is desirered sound. There’s a very wide range of quality that may be found in this class, from ornamental trinkets to exquisite professional instruments.

TURKISH OUDS

Turkish Ouds are quite a unique animal. Turkish Ouds are brighter as they are tuned at a higher pitch than Arabic Ouds. They are additionally constructed with a thinner soundboard making a lighter and brighter tone and timbre. A buddy 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 minimize the amount of bracing used on the soundboard so it resonates more. The Turkish Oud is at the least an inch shorter in scale than the Arabic Ouds as well. The nut is nearly non existent making a tone with more buzz. The distinction between Arabic Ouds and Turkish Ouds is very similar to the distinction between Classical guitars and Flamenco guitars.

Turkish Ouds may be a great wager for a beginner because the action will likely be low making it straightforward to play. Also, inexpensive factory built models tend to be quite trustworthy and well-built.

IRAQI OUDS

Iraqi Ouds might have a floating bridge that means that the bridge is not fastened to the wood face. This additionally offers a brighter tone. The bridge is just like the development of some Mandolins and Irish Bouzoukis, where the strings are attached to the bottom of the instrument instead of the bridge. This is the preferred Oud of Nasser Shamma and Munir Bashir. I personally love the sound of those Ouds, but some individuals don’t like them either. All of it depends upon your desire and the sound that you want to make.

IRANIAN OUDS

Iranian Ouds are once more a very completely different breed. They are called Barbat in Farsi and are the fruits of research into the design of historical Ouds in Center Jap art and literature. Apparently, the Oud was an essential instrument in Iran but for some reason fell out of use in Iran and became crucial instrument in Arab music. The Barbat was reinvented in just the last 30 years in Iran by one particular master luthier. He made the body smaller allowing more playability additional down the neck. The bowl form is less wide, but 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

Usually, when shopping for an Oud an necessary half is making certain it has low action. Action is the term for the distance between the fingerboard and the strings. If the strings are near the the fingerboard it shall be easier to play. This is important because it will make or break your experience and really dampen your temper, specially when putting in a lot of practice making an attempt to improve your technique. An Oud with high motion will probably be hard to progress beyond the basics. Ouds usually are not built with truss rods like guitars so the neck isn’t adjustable. It is better to see the Oud for your self to determine how the action is. If you’re buying online, ask for photos of the neck from the side if you’re in doubt.

USE THE PROPER STRINGS

It is crucial not to put too heavy gauge strings in your Oud, particularly if in case you have bought a cheap Oud. Oud strings of many types and gauges can be ordered online so don’t risk putting heavy classical guitar strings on it. Also, when you buy an Arabic Oud, don’t put D’Addario Turkish Oud strings on it. They’re meant for a special tuning, and when you use that tuning you may put more pressure in your Oud than necessary.

LOW QUALITY OR HIGH QUALITY

In case you are already a musician and know a thing or two about tone woods, then use the standards you know finest when looking for a good Oud. Better quality Ouds will naturally use ebony tuning pegs, ebony fingerboard, and a solid spruce prime, which may be made of two pieces of spruce glued and braced together. Other woods used for the bowl back are maple, walnut, palisander, and padouk. When you can inform the Oud is made out of those woods, then you might be entering into more severe craftsmanship.

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