Mike's Oud Forums

bird's feather

hans - 7-19-2014 at 02:17 AM

Has any of you members ever tried a bird's feather for a reesha? This morning i found one, and remembering the oud was originally played with an eagle's feaher i tried this one. I always imagined an eagle's feather to be a rather cumbersome tool, but this feather sounded very much like the famed cowshorn reesha's, but it was much easier to play with! It actually sounded really good and plays really nicely.a tremolo for instance is as easy as it used to be with my guitar pick, and easier than with the cowshorn or the plastic reesha.

Lysander - 7-19-2014 at 02:57 AM

Can't have much of a long shelf-life though... I'd have to go picking feathers off all the coots in Greenland Dock several times a week. I'm interested to hear what these sound like though.

hans - 7-19-2014 at 03:01 AM

I think once a month at the most, and if tou have a chicken coop nearby you can just pick them off the ground. It sounded rather like a cowhorn reesha

Jody Stecher - 7-19-2014 at 04:00 AM

The quill is first stripped of feathers except at the outer end. The clear part that was inside the bird is removed. It is the dark shaft that is used. then it is soaked for days or weeks in olive oil. Then the shape is refined. Now it is flexible, not brittle, and it does not break and it lasts for many years. It is like leather. Not like a fingernail.

For more information do a search for eagle feather risha on this forum. It has been thoroughly discussed.

hans - 7-19-2014 at 04:04 AM

Thanks Jody, but i'm not looking to use actual eagle feathers. I was just very and happily surprised by the sound and ease of usage of this feather i found

hans - 7-19-2014 at 04:50 AM

But i understand what you want to say. The eagle feathrr reesha wasn't actually the tip of feather anymore once it wad used to play

Lysander - 7-19-2014 at 06:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Jody Stecher  
The quill is first stripped of feathers except at the outer end. The clear part that was inside the bird is removed. It is the dark shaft that is used. then it is soaked for days or weeks in olive oil. Then the shape is refined. Now it is flexible, not brittle, and it does not break and it lasts for many years. It is like leather. Not like a fingernail.


Interesting thank you Jody, I might try this.

Brian Prunka - 7-20-2014 at 02:40 PM

I recently found a large hawk feather, was thinking of trying it.