"Learning to Play the Oud in Jordan!" by Caitlyn Longest
This is a Syrian-style Oud (عود)! It is a fretless instrument that traditionally sports 11 strings, a short neck, and creates a rich sound. The oud is a staple in Middle-Eastern music and it has been fun to start learning! I decided to take up the oud because of its similarity to the guitar, which I also play. Photo credit: Longest, 2022
The oud is a strange shape, with a rounded body and a pegbox that sits almost perpendicular to its neck. I purposely chose an oud that is not full size, as I figured it would be easier to travel with. This oud is made by Zeryab, a company that specializes in making high-quality ouds. Photo credit: Longest, 2022
This is a risha (ريشة). It is a thin plastic piece held in the hand that you use to play the strings of the oud (similar to a guitar pick). Photo credit: Longest, 2022
This is how to hold the risha against the strings of the oud. I am currently practicing how to use both up and down strumming motions to play sheet music more quickly/easily. Photo credit: Longest, 2022
This is one example of how to place your fingers on the oud. Because there are no frets, you must place your fingers in the exact right place to get the desired note (similar to how you play violin). This picture is how you would play the note “Fa.” Photo credit: Longest, 2022
This is the pegbox of the oud. Because the strings are forced to cross over one another, it can be very confusing when tuning the oud! Each string is adjusted using one of the pegs you can see sticking out of the side of the pegbox. Photo credit: Longest, 2022
Lastly, here is some sheet music that I am currently practicing. These exercises are to practice the Bayati scale, which is one of many scales that can be played on the oud. With that, I hope that you have enjoyed my short introduction and learned a little bit about the oud. Thank you for reading! Photo credit: Longest, 2022
