Michael - 1-22-2004 at 09:06 AM
Hi folks
Just came across this forum and joined up straight away.
Have been learning to play the oud for about 6 months now, but without a teacher so I was looking for on-line instructional material.
By way of a bit of background, I got into the oud from playing flamenco guitar and becoming interested in the arabic/moorish roots of flamenco. I
also play arabic percussion (darbuka, duf, etc....)
I'm based in Bristol, UK if anyone's nearby and wants to hook up and exchange oudisms!
Anyway, the main reason for my first post is that I can't get any sound on the first video lesson, namely "Right / Left Hand Basics".
I've tried both the download and streaming versions and I've tried them on both a Windows machine and a Linux machine. Other lessons work
fine, it's just this one. Is this a known problem? Is there a known solution?
Looking forward to participating in the forums, learning more about playing the oud, and making friends with a common interest.
regards
Michael
Mike - 1-22-2004 at 09:41 AM
Hey Michael,
Welcome...cool name too. 
That first lesson, is just introducing how to hold the risha (pick), hold the oud, plucking motions, etc. He isn't striking the strings. So to
answer your question, there is no sound in that file.
Take care,
Mike
Welcome above us
spyros mesogeia - 1-22-2004 at 11:47 AM
Welcome above us my friend...
Hello
David Parfitt - 1-22-2004 at 01:15 PM
Dear Michael
Nice to hear from another UK oud fan! I live near Exeter, so we are not that far apart.
I have a website at
http://website.lineone.net/~david.parfitt/
which you may be interested in.
There are some details there about a forthcoming oud concert in London by Asim al-Chalabi (Feb 11th), so maybe I'll meet up with you there? Adel
Salameh is also touring the UK at the moment, and I think the closest gig to you will be in Hampshire near the end of January (see http://www.adelsalameh.com ). Not sure I will be able to make it to that one though.
Best wishes
David
Michael - 1-23-2004 at 12:44 AM
Thanks for making me feel welcome guys.
Mike, I take your point about the video. I guess I was expecting a spoken commentary explaining what was being demonstrated.
David, thanks for providing the link to your site. As it happens I'd already come across it and bookmarked it. I've really found it useful,
especially the scales with fingerboard diagrams.
Exeter's not too far. Maybe we'll hook up sometime.
regards
Michael