What does the instrument oud look like?

Similar to the lute in appearance, the oud is an 11 or 13 string pear shaped wooden instrument. It has double strings usually down to the lowest string, which will be single. Unlike the lute, the oud does not have any frets and it has a thinner neck. 'Oud' literally means 'from wood' in Arabic.

What is oud instrument?

ʿūd, also spelled Oud, stringed musical instrument prominent in medieval and modern Islāmic music. It was the parent of the European lute. The ʿūd has a deep, pear-shaped body; a fretless fingerboard; and a relatively shorter neck and somewhat less acutely bent-back pegbox than the European lute.

How is the oud instrument played?

Oud is played with a plectrum. Its fretless neck allows the instrument to generate any intervals or microtones particular to the Middle Eastern music. Oud instrument is suitable for you to enjoy Turkish, Iran or Arab music by playing makams/maqamat. Oud is played according to two schools of performance.

Is oud a guitar?

The main difference between an Oud instrument and a guitar is that the neck of an Oud is fretless. The frets of a guitar allow the guitarist to play chords but they cannot play quarter tones. An Oud has limited chords but the fretless neck allows for a monochromatic range of sound that has no limitations.

Is the oud a good instrument?

The mid-east Egyptian oud may be a great instrument for beginners as it has easy playability. The instrument may also perfect for professionals as it produces a very rich quality sound when played. It has a high resonance, a good volume, and tone.

Introducing: The Arabic Oud

How much does an oud cost?

HOW MUCH DOES OUD COST? Extracting the aromatic dark resin from Agarwood trees is costly. A kilo of oud wood yields just 1ml of resin and a 12ml bottle of high-quality oud can cost up to 2,700 euros (3,000 US dollars).

How much should I pay for an oud?

Ouds can be found at a pretty wide range of prices. Starting at 300$ up to 10,000$.

What is oud called in English?

Oud (agarwood, aloe wood, eagle wood, gaharu) is formed in a tropical evergreen tree called Agar tree (Aquilaria species) which is believed to have originated from Assam, India.

Is the oud a hard instrument to learn?

The Oud is definitely a challenging instrument, but it isn't as difficult as the Piano. You will learn how to play notes that are not found in Western Music which will broaden your ears once you learn to differentiate between different scales and modes. This is truly a new frontier that can be very exciting.

Is the oud still used today?

It has been considered one of the most important instruments within Arabic music for centuries and still is considered a holy grail today. The Oud has evolved over the years, in size, sound, and tuning. It is widely played across the Middle East in a variety of styles and genres.

Is oud the first guitar?

The Oud is the predecessor of the Lute and Guitar.

Does the oud have a bridge?

For a classical guitar, the strings height at the bridge is already adjusted (by the luthier). For the oud, the strings height at the bridge depends on the the good or the bad strings assembly. If you're not be careful, you will note height differences between the strings.

Is oud a string instrument?

The oud (Arabic: عود, romanized: ʿūd, pronounced [ʕuːd]; Somali: kaban or cuud) is a short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument (a chordophone in the Hornbostel–Sachs classification of instruments), usually with 11 strings grouped in six courses, but some models have five or seven courses, with 10 ...

How old is the oud instrument?

The oud is one of the oldest stringed instruments, dating back to the era of Akad (2350 BCE).

How big is an oud?

The oud is 72.5 centimetres long, with a 19.5 centimetre neck. The soundbox is 53 centimetres in length, with a 33.5-centimetre maximum width and 18.5-centimetre depth.

What is the difference between a lute and an oud?

The main difference between the Oud and Lute instruments is that a Lute has a fretted neck and can have more strings or be a larger size than the Oud instrument. The Lute is associated with Western Shakespearean culture while the Oud is the main instrument of Middle Eastern and Arab culture.

Where is the oud played?

The instrument goes by many names, takes several shapes, and can be played in a number of styles both traditional and modern. The oud or ud, sometimes referred to as barbat in Iran or kaban in Somalia and Sudan, is an instrument predominantly found in the Middle East, Spain, Greece, as well as North and East Africa.

Who invented the oud instrument?

Instrument said to have been invented by Noah's grandfather.

Abu Nasr Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Farabi, the Muslim scholar known to many as Alpharabius and born about 872, said the oud was invented by Noah's grandfather, Lamech - the sixth grandson of Adam and Eve.

What smell is oud?

The Oud qualities

The olfactory profile of the Oud seduces immediately. Its woody smell is rich in nuances, ranging from sweet to earthy, with some notes of leather and spices. It depends on the species of the tree that produces the resin and on the technique used for extraction.

Why is oud so expensive?

One reason oud is so expensive is its rarity; by some estimates, fewer than 2% of wild agar trees produce it. Experts claim that the very best oud comes from the oldest trees, which are even more scarce. It can sell for $5,000 a pound – or more.

How do you store oud instruments?

Keep the oud away from sunlight that can destroy the sheen of the oud. Not only from heat but also extreme exposure to cold, sunlight etc are bad for the maintenance of an oud. It is always recommended to keep the oud in a hard case so that it is not exposed to temperature and humidity.

How do I choose an oud?

Every Oud will sound different, and every Oud builder creates a unique sound. If you want a well-balanced Oud sound with a combination of deep bass, warmth and versatility, perhaps an Arabic Oud is a good choice. If you want a unique sound and an Oud with a little more sustain, the Turkish Oud is a good idea.