Mike's Oud Forums

Strings for Turkish oud

Abu Ramses - 6-11-2023 at 12:42 PM

I just acquired a Turkish oud hoping that it will put less pressure on my injured shoulder and will be able to continue playing. Previously I've played an Arabic oud tuned C, FF, AA, dd, gg, cc. I want to put a new set of strings on the Turkish oud. Any recommendations?

Jody Stecher - 6-11-2023 at 09:13 PM

The first thing I would try is the D'Addario Arabic oud set. EJ95A. They are not expensive. They sound good tuned to the same tuning you have been using on an oud with 58.5 scale (the typical nut-to-bridge length of Turkish ouds. What strings did you use on your larger oud and what was the scale (the vibrating length) of the strings? I have had right shoulder problems in the past from playing an oud that was too large for me. But its scale was not much longer than 58.5 cm.

Abu Ramses - 6-12-2023 at 06:09 AM

Thanks my Arabic oud is also smallish with a scale of 59 cm. I use either those same D'Addario EJ95A or La Bella OU80-A with it.

Bassole - 7-11-2023 at 07:35 PM

I have this exact Zeryab Oud (https://www.arabinstruments.com/products/syrian-oud-by-zeryab-1g) with 12 strings. Is it possible to use the D'Addario EJ95A Strings (11 string set with only one bass string) or do I have to only use strings sets with 12 strings in them like the La Bella OU80A?

The D'Addario EJ95A (11 strings) are the following sizes: 0.026/0.031/0.024/0.028/0.032/0.043

While the La Bella OU80A (12 strings) are: 0.022/0.027/0.031/0.023/0.029/0.033

Will the larger size D'Addario's create any problem with respect to tension force and the gap size at the nut that each string sits in?

Thank you!!

coolsciguy - 7-12-2023 at 03:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bassole  
I have this exact Zeryab Oud (https://www.arabinstruments.com/products/syrian-oud-by-zeryab-1g) with 12 strings. Is it possible to use the D'Addario EJ95A Strings (11 string set with only one bass string) or do I have to only use strings sets with 12 strings in them like the La Bella OU80A?

The D'Addario EJ95A (11 strings) are the following sizes: 0.026/0.031/0.024/0.028/0.032/0.043

While the La Bella OU80A (12 strings) are: 0.022/0.027/0.031/0.023/0.029/0.033

Will the larger size D'Addario's create any problem with respect to tension force and the gap size at the nut that each string sits in?

Thank you!!



Hi,

La Bella OU80A is for Ff Iraqi tuning thus 12 strings. D'Addario EJ95A is for Cc standard tuning and in this case it's always 11 strings as the top base string (C) is to thick to be doubled.

You can use D'Addario EJ95A 11 strings without issue. Your 12th peg will have no string on it. In regards to tension, I think your Zeryab has a scale length of 58.5 cm which should work with D'Addario EJ95A.

Some manufacturers make strings appropriate for 60cm scale ouds, you can do a search on this forum to dig out information regarding various brands and their respective scale lengths.