dampwater - 7-30-2007 at 07:40 PM
Hello forum members, I just wanted to introduce myself, I'm Karim and I've been playing guitar for about 5 years and recently (6 months ago) began
playing the oud, as I've always wanted to learn it.
Here is a simple Rast taqseem I made a couple of hours ago, please judge how I play and possibly the level of my playing and where I need to improve.
I hope you enjoy it!
Due to size issues, I've posted it on the following link...
http://dampwater.dmusic.com/
its the first song on there Rast Taqseem. 
Thanks 
SamirCanada - 7-30-2007 at 09:45 PM
there is no file there.
make sure it is under 1 megabite. thats the limit.
dampwater - 7-30-2007 at 10:39 PM
ohhh woops, I'm sincerely sorry, I didn't know about the file size restriction...since this is a longer piece, I've decided to upload it on another
website. Please check it out at this link...
http://dampwater.dmusic.com/
Its the first one called Rast Taqseem (07-30-07)
Again, I apologize, and please tell me what you think!
MatthewW - 7-31-2007 at 03:25 AM
Hi Karim, I enjoyed your take on taqsim rast. The 'string section' in the background added a nice ambiance, and you play well for 6 months. Having
been at the guitar for 5 years must have helped. Have you come across any local oud teachers to help you with oud basics like maqams, etc, or are you
just playing on instinct?
On a slightly different note, I noticed on your webpage that it said you guys were based in Cairo about 3 years ago, I guess having lived there you
would naturally have a feel for the oud! Are you the same dampwater now based in Houston, TX with the posting about trying to get your strings tied
on?
dampwater - 7-31-2007 at 05:57 AM
yea yea...I'm the same guy who can't tie his strings...lol. I mean, I can tie them, but I just found a hard time having them to stay at a right level
of action from the fretboard.
I actually started up on the oud when I came to houston not in cairo! And No, I wasn't taught by anybody although i wish i have been, I just studied
the maqams from the internet and listen to alot of taqsims (sunbati, wahab, farid, etc...)
Thanks for taking the time to listen! I hope more people can give me advice or comments on where to improve and such, thanks...
Maher - 7-31-2007 at 11:08 AM
That's pretty good for someone who just started playing the oud. I am a beginner too, so I am not qualified to give you any technical advice, but I
enjoyed listening to the piece. Good luck with your band...
cjmichael - 8-1-2007 at 09:27 AM
Hello dampwater,
Since I am just a beginner on the oud, I can't really provide any constructive criticism, but I can certainly say that I enjoyed it. On a somewhat
related note I noticed you had "Ya Mahla Nourha" there as one of your songs (I enjoyed this one as well). Do you have the notes to this song or did
you just play it by ear?
Thanks,
Chris.
dampwater - 8-2-2007 at 09:31 AM
Thanks chris, I actually do have the notes for "Ya mahla nourha". Its a very simple song in Ajam. Thanks for commenting on my taqseem. I have attached
the notes for Ya Mahla Nourha...Enjoy!
cjmichael - 8-4-2007 at 09:50 AM
Excellent, thanks for these notes.