There are 11 strings on the oud: five courses, or sets, of doubled strings and a single low string, usually a C. It is still widely popular in many places in the world. Learning basic techniques from this instrument can add a cool sound to your playing and maybe help to inspire new and fresh ideas.
Photo: Cindy Moorhead
The oud is an ancient, fretless instrument, originating in the Middle East. You could say it is the grandfather of the guitar, with the lute developing from the oud and then finally the guitar from the lute.
There are 11 strings on the oud: five courses, or sets, of doubled strings and a single low string, usually a C. It is still widely popular in many places in the world. Learning basic techniques from this instrument can add a cool sound to your playing and maybe help to inspire new and fresh ideas.
The technique we will be focusing on for this lesson is a simple pedal tone technique sometimes heard in "Taqsims." A Taqsim is an intro improvisation that usually proceeds a composition in Arabic, Greek, Turkish or Middle Eastern music. This establishes the sound and feel of the composition that follows it. Search "Oud Taqsim" on YouTube for some examples and to be introduced to the oud if you aren't already familiar with it.
The pedaling (referring back to melodically) that will be shown in this lesson is playing the low E string while alternately playing the tones of a scale, two and three strings away. This is a great exercise to build your depth-gauging ability on the guitar in respect to being able to feel with your right hand how far you have to go to accurately hit the string of your choice. It is also a