Considered to be the “king of all instruments”, an oud looks a lot like a lute – although it plays quite a bit in a different way with a rich, distinctive sound not produced by every other instrument.
Featuring eleven different strings (10 of them paired collectively), this instrument is one of the oldest in human history. Beloved by folks all through the Middle East, historians believe it to be the ancestor of the Egyptian nefer as well as the Persian barbat.
As highlighted above, the oud is definitely the predecessor of the European lute, too.
Should you’ve been thinking about finding an Arabic oud for sale and learning tips on how to play you’ll wish to know precisely what to look for. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide.
By the point you’re executed with the inside information under you’ll know exactly methods to find the perfect oud – and how one can master this delightful instrument!
Let’s dig right in.
A Quick History of the Oud
Although some historians argue about who created the primary oud, most imagine that both the Arabic and Turkish oud was inspired by an instrument created in Persia.
The ouds are fairly good that this first oud was carved entirely out of a single piece of wood, although this design element would change via the years. The truth is, during the Moorish block of time throughout Spain an oud would have been made of staved wooden materials.
The earliest ouds also featured tops that were made of wooden development material, differentiating them from European lutes as well as mandolins that had tops created out of animal skin. All of these design parts contributed to the distinctive sound the traditional intestine strings of this instrument produced.
Deciding on an Arabic or Turkish Oud
The first thing you’ll have to resolve on earlier than you go searching for an oud for sale is whether or not you want an Arabic option or a Turkish option (as well as the difference between the two).
Arabic ouds are found commonly all through North Africa, and Lebanon and Jordan, Iraq and Iran, as well as all through the Arabian Peninsula. There’s a very romantic sound produced by these instruments, with deep, round, and well-balanced sound qualities which are totally different and distinct from those produced by Turkish ouds.
Turkish ouds, however, are typically found in Turkey as well as in Greece. They’ve a brighter sound, a more energetic sound, and a sound that’s often tuned to an entire step higher than Arabic ouds with rather a lot more tension in the strings that produce sounds and higher frequencies.
The kind of music you’re looking to create with this new instrument will heavily influence your decisions when it comes time to purchase oud in either the Arabic or Turkish style. They might look very similar (and share a whole lot of the identical options), but the type of music and the energy of the music they create is wildly different.
If you’re critical about getting probably the most out of this instrument you need to know whether you’re hunting for an Arabic oud or a Turkish oud earlier than you start your search.
Ouds for Sale, Other Considerations to Focus On
Aside from whether or not or not you will be happy with an Arabic oud or a Turkish oud there are a few other key considerations you’re going to wish to zero in on before you spend cash on this instrument.
For starters, you’ll must determine whether or not or not you’re looking for a traditional and acoustic oud or would be happier with a more modern electric oud. This boils down to the type of music you’re looking to create, however there’s a world of difference between these options for sure.
Secondly, you’ll must make certain that the oud on the market you might be buying comes from a reputable manufacturer that ideally specializes in these instruments. This isn’t the kind of instrument you’ll need to source from a generalist instrument producer, but instead an organization that understands the ins and outs of ouds and what it takes to produce an instrument of quality.
The perfect corporations to buy cracker options from our based mostly within the Center East, with completely different firms making nice Arabic and Turkish options to your consideration.
Lastly, it’s not a bad thought to leap on a site like YouTube to listen to ouds being performed for inspiration in which oud for sale you must purchase.
In case you’re not sure whether or not you want an Arabic or a Turkish oud this will help level you in the fitting direction. Simply research the type of oud the musician is enjoying in the video and you’ll know easy methods to zero your search in on an instrument buy that you’ll be joyful with.
