Arabic Oud
The oud is the world's most popular Arabian instrument today, and it is the historical predecessor of the European lute, which evolved into the guitar. Many diverse branches of the oud can be found in Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Greece, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Armenia, Israel, Iran, Morocco, and Singapore. Whether the oud is Egyptian, Turkish, or Iraqi, there are three essential variances in size and measurements. The oud has a smooth, pear-shaped, hollow body with a short, fretless neck with 11 strings, five of which are paired in unison, and one deep bass string.
Arabic Oud’s Strings:
Although some ouds contain an extra pair of strings, the oud typically has five pairs of strings tuned in harmony and a single bass string. C, F, A, D, G, C is the most frequent tuning (low to high), making all intervals perfect fourths (except F to A). Historically, strings were constructed of animal gut and plucked using a plectrum called a risha (Arabic for feather). Current risha-s are made of plastic, tortoiseshell, animal horn, or even bamboo, while modern strings are made of steel coiled over nylon.
The oud has a pleasant timbre and an extensive tonal range (about three octaves), and because it is percussive, it can transmit melody and rhythm equally well. This makes it ideal for accompanying a singer. It's also the composers' go-to instrument for creating new melodies. Live concerts and recordings of oud taqasim are also quite popular.
With minor changes in proportions, style, and timbre, the Arabic oud is essentially the same instrument found in many other regions (e.g., Greece, Turkey, and Iran). The oud, from which the European "lute" gets its name, is a descendent of the oud (al-oud).
Types of Arabic oud:
F Egyptian Oud - F Tunning Oud
A 20-inch neck and fixed bridge make the Egyptian oud a middle-sized oud, making it a popular choice for beginners. Shamsya design covers or partially covers the holes on an Egyptian oud. The Egyptian oud is also set to 440 Hz, the world standard, and is tuned to a male singer's vocal range. This instrument is known as the Sultan of Sound when played in unison with Egyptian vocalists to perform Tarab music and Saltana singing. Like the bass in jazz, this stringed instrument is a significant part of Tarab music and culture.
F Electric Oud
Armenian oud manufacturer Najarian created the electric oud during the technological revolution of the twenty-first century. In the same way, as electric guitars have hollow bodies, electric ouds have amplified tones that can be altered. For musicians who want to perform in front of larger crowds, create new sounds, and take their oud into other genres, the electric oud is a modern take on the well-known Arabian instrument.
F Arabic Oud Cedar Top
It's easy to play because it's on a regular 58.5cm scale. However, because of its cedar top, it also has a beautiful, mellow tone. Easy to play and designed with the player's comfort in mind. With an absolute Cedar top, you can now enjoy those warm tones. It's all set up and ready to go with a set of Kurschner Premium Arabic Oud Strings.
F Cedar Top Iraqi Oud
For oud players to truly enjoy playing their device, Sultan Instrument has created Advanced Ouds, handcrafted by the masters. Each of our Advanced Ouds has a unique sound and is sure to make your life richer via the magic of music.
The Canadian Red Cedar Faced Iraqi Ouds with Spruce fronts are employed by many aspiring and professional musicians worldwide, and they come with a floating bridge. Oud professors frequently recommend our advanced models to their pupils.
Final Remarks!
So, this is all about Arabic oud and its famous types. If you are fond of music and instruments, you can enjoy with Arabic oud!