Considered to be the “king of all instruments”, an oud looks rather a lot like a lute – though it performs quite a bit differently with a rich, unique sound not produced by every other instrument.
That includes eleven different strings (10 of them paired together), this instrument is without doubt one of the oldest in human history. Beloved by people throughout the Middle East, historians imagine 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.
In the event you’ve been thinking about discovering an Arabic oud for sale and learning methods to play you’ll need to know precisely what to look for. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide.
By the point you’re accomplished with the inside information under you’ll know exactly find out how to find the right oud – and the right way to master this delightful instrument!
Let’s dig proper in.
A Quick History of the Oud
Although some historians argue about who created the primary oud, most imagine that each the Arabic and Turkish oud was inspired by an instrument created in Persia.
The ouds are fairly good that this first oud was carved completely out of a single piece of wood, although this design factor would change through the years. In reality, in the course of the Moorish block of time all through Spain an oud would have been made of staved wooden materials.
The earliest ouds also featured tops that had been made of wooden construction materials, differentiating them from European lutes as well as mandolins that had tops created out of animal skin. All of these design components 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 on the market is whether or not you want an Arabic option or a Turkish option (as well as the difference between the two).
Arabic ouds are discovered 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, spherical, and well-balanced sound qualities which are completely different and distinct from the ones produced by Turkish ouds.
Turkish ouds, then again, are typically found in Turkey as well as in Greece. They’ve a brighter sound, a more energetic sound, and a sound that is usually tuned to an entire step higher than Arabic ouds with rather a lot more pressure within the strings that produce sounds and higher frequencies.
The kind of music you’re looking to create with this new instrument will closely influence your decisions when it comes time to buy oud in either the Arabic or Turkish style. They may look very related (and share loads of the identical options), however the type of music and the energy of the music they create is wildly different.
If you happen to’re serious about getting probably the most out of this instrument you need to know whether or not you’re hunting for an Arabic oud or a Turkish oud before you start your search.
Ouds for Sale, Different 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 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 two options for sure.
Secondly, you’ll need to make certain that the oud for sale you are buying comes from a reputable producer that ideally makes a speciality of these instruments. This isn’t the kind of instrument you’ll want to supply 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 very best companies to buy cracker options from our primarily based within the Center East, with completely different corporations making great Arabic and Turkish options to your consideration.
Lastly, it’s not a bad thought to jump on a site like YouTube to listen to ouds being performed for inspiration in which oud for sale it is best to purchase.
Should you’re not sure whether or not or not you need an Arabic or a Turkish oud this will help level you in the right direction. Merely research the type of oud the musician is playing within the video and also you’ll know find out how to zero your search in on an instrument buy that you’ll be pleased with.
