Mike's Oud Forums

lefty oud?

MartinC - 5-5-2006 at 03:19 PM

Hello all,

My first post: I'm a left handed guitarist-mainly flamenco. I'd like to get an oud and learn to play it and am wondering if it's simply a matter of switching the strings around or if that perhaps won't work. I've been playing guitar for thirty years so learning to play right handed is not an option.
Also, any tips on what kind, and how much I should be spending? I'm hoping to record with it, not tradtional oud music, but as it's often used in a flamenco context.

Thanks.

SamirCanada - 5-5-2006 at 09:43 PM

There's a beutifull left handed maurice shehata oud on Ebay right now.
You should get it at the price its selling, its an awsome deal.

The main difference in a left handed oud is the first peg closest to the pegbox doesnt come it the way of your hand when playing. So switching the strings around isnt a real good solution.
The other problem could be that when you switch the strings the nut doesnt accomodate for the strings used.
Also sometimes the soundboard is tuned and adjusted to vibrate apropriately under the right strings if you switch the strings you could get a little less sound.

MartinC - 5-27-2006 at 08:20 AM

After some consideration, I took your advice and purchased this oud. I received it yesterday and it is more beautiful than I imagined. :D I was wondering about the difference between 11 and 12 string setups. The oud can accomadate 12 strings, but is stringed with only 11. Can someone explain?

Martin
Quote:
Originally posted by SamirCanada
There's a beutifull left handed maurice shehata oud on Ebay right now.
You should get it at the price its selling, its an awsome deal.

The main difference in a left handed oud is the first peg closest to the pegbox doesnt come it the way of your hand when playing. So switching the strings around isnt a real good solution.
The other problem could be that when you switch the strings the nut doesnt accomodate for the strings used.
Also sometimes the soundboard is tuned and adjusted to vibrate apropriately under the right strings if you switch the strings you could get a little less sound.