Reda Aouad - 1-14-2009 at 01:22 PM
I want to ask about the Iraqi tuning FCDGCF (from low to high) since I'm used to the Arabic tuning FADGCF.
Why is that second string (from lowest) tuned to C and the next one only a note higher D? What are the advantages and disadvantages? I see that it
will make the low B harder to play on the lowest F chord.. and don't know how it may be better for chords.
Any help?
Thanks 
katakofka - 1-14-2009 at 06:01 PM
hi reda
I am not sure if you can call it an Iraqi tuning, I guess it's Nasser shamma specific tuning. Naseer plays a lot on the last 4 strings and uses the 2
others as a pedal, base playing. In theory the strings should be separated by 4 tones, such as, Mi-La-Re-sol-do-fa, but oudists change a lot the
tuning of the first 2 strings.
Best
Souheil
Reda Aouad - 1-14-2009 at 08:44 PM
Thanks Souheil.
But in case Naseer is playing a 7-course oud, he will then have 2 strings tuned to Do and octave apart (CFCDGCF low to high) which doesn't make sense
to have them both as drones (base notes).
I have also heard from many on this forum that it is in fact called the Iraqi tuning and that many Iraqi players use it, but I'm not sure about it.
Didn't Munir Bachir use it ?
katakofka - 1-14-2009 at 09:58 PM
I guess ur right. Munir bashir used to tune, DO-re-sol-do-fa-DO, the last do is the pedal and it is down the Fa as seen in here
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=6c5k9pTnfeA
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=A3G7VW1RMks&feature=related
I had in mind that munir used to tune SOL-re-sol-do-fa-DO but I guess I am wrong.
I haven't seen Nasser playing a 7 course oud but I saw him doing 8 courses. I didn't get too much interrested since with 6-7 courses it's already
complicated
Best