My hand rests over the sound hole - my arms are long?

Luttgutt is right. Little value in heroics. Some players support the oud entirely with the right arm, and some don't. Holding the oud in the vertical plane looks nice, and making eye contact with audience, never looking at the fingerboard, proves you know where stuff is, and is another cool trick, but allow me to prove it's not important. Can we agree that some of the greatest musicians are blind, but that there are very few serious musicians who are deaf from birth? In other words, it's hearing and not sight that is important for music? If that is the case, how can tricks that only the sighted can appreciate, like holding the oud perfectly straight and not looking at the fingerboard, possibly be very important?

If you are pressing a hard edge against a nerve, you may cause long term neurological problems, your body is warning you, so find a COMFORTABLE position, or use some accessories, like a little pillow. If your arms are long, you should not be limited by your DNA to only picking over the soundhole, as that's a very specific timbre, so find ways to play everywhere, near the bridge as well. Unless you are a serious masochist, it is when the oud falls into your arms every day, several times a day, that you play it a lot, and play it well. It should be a joyful communion, not a time to tense up your muscles and smoke your last cigarette blindfolded. The more you play it, the more you can learn, and the more your oud resonates to what you play, something even happens with the wood, and the better the instrument sounds.

At some point you will inevitably lose some of that enchantment, so do everything you can to make the honeymoon last and last!

Love your oud often, and it will love you back!

Hi

Do not dismiss playing over the sound hole there are some lovely sounds here. I too find a more natural hand and arm position just slightly over the sound hole. I never play over the pickguard because I find it bends my wrist too much and creates tension which will then cause the left hand to sympathise and press the strings down to hard. We all have to experiment and find our own way. Good luck.

No, your oud is just to small

Cheers,

Marcus (formerly known as "monkey-arm-mark")

Quote: Originally posted by Ararat66

with each oud there will be a sweet spot and you do get a very nice sound nearer the sound hole.

Hi!

I Agree that each oud has its sweet spot some ouds are more clearer and rounder when plucked near the soundhole or over it. but some it will sound too fat or ethier close to more classical guitar sound.

Choose w/c one is the best sound produced for for ears. Regarding on the forearm which may cause damage on your nerves etc. make sure that your not putting a lot of pressure. dont push your forearm too much. cause more pressure it will also effect your right hand in order to make some freely movements from reesha techniques. And I find that my Oud sounds more better if plucked before the soundhole between the soundhole and pickguard. Coz it will also effect the tensions of the strings. If You plucked at soundhole u will feel a loose string tension. so maybe for some people it's harder to plucked consistently coz the strings are flabby compare to at the pickguard or near the bridge. I find It easier near the bridge coz when I pluck the strings it comes back fast to its normal position compare to plucking over the soundhole.

1. Find the a Position to Work with. (Right hand Elbow Position - High or medium or low as perpendicular to the strings.) (Forearm High or Medium or Low as perpendicular to the strings.) Check also Right leg Position Support.

2. Check if you like the sound & Timbre

3. Then check if it works better in techniques like better risha movements. easy plucking, or easy for tremolo etc etc...etc....

4. Then stay with it if it works. If not repeat the procedure no.1 until u find which's works best.

Some rules are made to be broken, especially some cases.

Have Fun!

The Forearm is just a support. and you can put a long wrist band like other members have suggested here.

Cheers

Philip

One other thing

Remember you can vary the place you pluck the string depending on what you want to 'say' musically so exploring the sounds is what we do.



Leon

HI!

BTW Can U Post Some Pictures or Video so we can All see exactly what u are sayin here.

Oud Size is also an Issue here. Because not all people are the same.Some have big arms and longer.

Cheers

Philip