What is the best Oud for beginners?
The Oud is a fretless instrument that can produce any intervals or microtones and is characteristic of Middle Eastern, Greek, Turkish, and North African sounds. It has a striping bowl pattern, which was achieved by bending very wooden staves over a mould. Based on the type of Oud and the area, the number of strings ranges from 10 to 13.
When you purchase an oud, you will be able to mould it in your hands and create your unique voice. So, if you want to acquire one, we propose that you look into the characteristics of the various models and pick the sound that you love.
What is a Good-Quality Oud
Our collection of handmade ouds is a great place to start if you're looking for an excellent instrument. Tuning pegs and Ebony fingerboards are standard on high-end ouds, whereas spruce is commonly used for the instruments' bodies. Maple, palisander, walnut, and mahogany are used to make the bowl back. It would be simpler to operate the instruments if the strings were closer to the fingerboard.
Beginner Ouds
Beginner ouds can be purchased for between $300 and $800. Wood quality and how long the Oud will survive are reflected in the different pricing ranges. Underneath the Oud's visages are the measurements and bridge secrets. When you're learning to play the Oud, the size of the instrument matters a lot. While practicing on an oud, your hands will naturally fall into place. As a result, finding the same dimensions when shopping for a new oud is necessary.
What is the top-rated Oud for you to start with?
I will give as much advice as possible on which Oud is best for beginners to the tens of thousands of prospective oud students who apply every day. Here are a few options to think about in terms of ouds.
1. Arabic Oud Instrument
The Arabic Oud, also renowned as the King of Musical Instruments in Egypt, is widely regarded as the face of traditional Arabic music. Egyptian oud makers have no online presence. But the finest keep their secrets. Builders maintain the bridge's secrets buried amongst their tools, and it's not for the public to know about it? The products have never disappointed.
2. Turkish Musical Oud
Since the 1990s, the Turkish Oud has become the most popular Oud. The Turkish oud maker's passion and skill contribute to the beauty of the Turkish Oud. The instrument's deep sound makes it ideal for oriental, Moorish spiritual, and other compositions that call for a more subdued tonality.
Turkey's ouds have a unique tuning that sets them apart from other ouds. It has a lower pitch than the other ouds by one and a half semitones. For example, the Turkish Oud C string is an A string on an Arabic Oud. For the students, professional Ouds crafted to their exact specifications and discounts are available.
3. Egyptian Oud
This is the most romantic Oud I've ever heard. The tone of the Egyptian Oud is warm, hefty, and thick. The low frequencies are working overtime. The Egyptian Oud is usually embellished with mother-of-pearl on the Oud's face and has a flat bottom. The Egyptian Oud is also the biggest among the ouds in size. Spruce is commonly used for the front.
Final Remarks
The above is a simple guide for newbies. The sound of an Oud will vary from one builder to the next, just as every person who makes an Oud does. An Arabic Oud can be a wonderful option for you to get a well-rounded Oud sound with a decent mix of low bass, warmth, and adaptability. The Turkish Oud is an excellent option if you're looking for a unique tone and an Oud with a little more sustain. Most new Turkish Ouds, excluding handmade Yildirim Palabiyik Ouds, have a low soundboard compared to Arabic Ouds. Depending on how harsh you are with them, this could make them more fragile or limit their lives. Many Turkish luthiers are also capable of producing custom-made Arabic Ouds.