hama - 3-8-2014 at 11:05 AM
Hi All
I own 6 course Turunz oud Arabic tuning . Just changed the strings
Decided to change the tuning to :
AAddggcc on the high strings
Can some one recommend what tuning to put
On the other 2 base strings and why ?(first string is single and second is double)
Thanks in advance
Best regards
majnuunNavid - 3-8-2014 at 09:44 PM
Sorry hama, it is not completely clear what tuning you have changed to...
it looks like you have it tuned from high strings to low strings:
ccggddaa
right?
If that is true, tune the double string to G or F, and you can tune the single bass string to C or D.
Also check out this video I made, I hope it helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FeUD8Hu-5k
good luck!
majnuunNavid - 3-8-2014 at 09:51 PM
Also, in general it has become practice to indicate the metal wound strings as capital letters example, DDAA and unwound strings as lower case example
gg cc.
so tune your oud (bass string to high string)
CGGDDAAggcc This is the easiest tuning to use, the low C string can be used to play low C and you can also play D by using your finger
or
CFFDDAAggcc This is another option. Very versatile tuning, you can play maqams in C, F, G, D, A, but it is more challenging to get your instrument in
tune, and it is only a little bit more difficult to play.
or
DGGDDAAggcc Use this tuning if you are playing in maqam starting on D or G a lot. Sounds really good for Hijaz on D and Bayati on D, Kurd on D,
anything on D.
hama - 3-9-2014 at 01:28 AM
Many thanks for your help
Most tuning so far I seen is similar the only
Difference is they are in order of AADD anot haven't seen
In the order of DDAA
majnuunNavid - 3-9-2014 at 09:37 AM
oh sorry that was my mistake, I was getting it all backwards, the tunings should be as follows.
CGGAADDggcc
CFFAADDggcc
DGGAADDggcc
Brian Prunka - 3-9-2014 at 12:13 PM
The standard notation for the strings is to indicate octave with a combination of lowercase & capital letters plus apostrophes. Middle C is
notated as c' (the first course on the oud in classic tuning).
The notation changes on "C". The 6th course is usually tuned C or D. If I write out the letters in order and bracket the strings, it becomes
clearer:
Classic Arabic: {6:C/D 5:F/G 4:A 3:d 2:g 1:c'}
{6:C, D}, E, {5:F, G}, {4:A}, B, c, {3:d}, e, f, {2:g}, a, b, {1:c'}
Where the numerals indicate the course.
Iraqi tuning: {6:F/G 5:A 4:d 3:g 2:c' 1:f'}
{6:F, G}, {5:A}, B, c, {4:d}, e, f, {3:g}, a, b, {2:c'}, d', e', {1:f'}
Old Turkish/Armenian: {6:E 5:A 4:B 3:e 2:a 1:d'}
{6:E}, F, G, {5:A}, {4:B}, c, d, {3:e}, f, g, {2:a}, b, c', {1:d'}
Modern Turkish: {6:C# 5:F# 4:B 3:e 2:a 1:d'} or {6:B 5:F# 4:B 3:e 2:a 1:d'}
{6:B', C#}, D, E, {5:F#}, G, A, {4:B}, c, d, {3:e}, f, g, {2:a}, b, c', {1:d'}
Since some people use a plain dd course and others use wound (and some people even use a wound gg course) it is more consistent to name the strings by
pitch rather than whether it is wound or not.
The range of the oud from lowest note to highest (in all standard tunings) exists along the scale of all notes like so:
..., B'', C', D', E', F', G', A', {B', C, D, E, F, G, A, B, c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c', d', e', f', g', a', b', c'', d'', ee'', ff''},
gg'', aa'', bb'', cc''', ....
I prefer to write 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (lowest pitch to highest pitch), but either is okay as long as you note the pitches correctly:
CFAdgc' or c'gdaFC
So, long story short, the third course in classic Arabic tuning is d, not D (which would be the 6th course).
hama - 3-10-2014 at 05:35 AM
Thank You Brian Much appreciated
please kindly recommend a set of strings for the Turunz grand Concert oud Arabic Tunning .