joklany - 3-22-2009 at 01:32 AM
Hello All
I recently started to learn the oud. Having absolutely no previous music training, I have been finding it challenging to know when my fingers are
hitting the correct tone and when I am off tone.
I realize that this would come with experience but are there any tips you can give me to avoid being off tone at this early stage?
For example, are there exact positons for each finger that one could measure using a ruler?
Many Thanks in Advance
Jaafar
Reda Aouad - 3-22-2009 at 02:17 AM
I'll try to help you a bit.
First.. the string length (from nut to bridge) of various ouds differ. They can range from around 57-58cm to 62-63cm in general. So it's hard to
measure the note positions with a ruler.
What you need to do is to get an electronic tuner and learn how to use it if you don't know yet.
Tune one string to its exact note using the tuner - the SOL (G) string for example, and make sure it's 100% exactly tuned.
Then search for the LA (A) note on the string with your first finger using the tuner again. Take some adhesive pieces of paper and stick them to the
upper side of your oud's neck on the exact position where you found the note or mark it with a non-permanent marker - see this photo http://sites.google.com/site/oudguitare/_/rsrc/1233614042113/le-man... (picture taken from the site http://sites.google.com/site/oudguitare/accueil - by Michaël Freva)
Repeat by searching for the SI (B) note on the same string and stick another piece of paper at its location. Then you can also repeat the process for
SOL#/LAb (G#/Ab) and LA#/SIb (A#/Bb).
Now you have the basic finger positions that you can start with as a beginner. They are all the same vertical positions for all strings - of course if
the tuning is perfect.
If something is still not clear please ask and I'll be happy to help you 
Keep in
mind that it should only be a temporary solution until you get used to hit the correct note.
Regards,
Reda
joklany - 3-22-2009 at 11:36 AM
Hi Reda
I tried your suggestion this evening and it worked quite well. I could already notice an improvement in the consistency of hitting the correct note.
Many Thanks for the advice.
Jaafar
Reda Aouad - 3-22-2009 at 11:58 AM
You're most welcome 
It's always nice to help beginners.. I'm not that professional.. but we were all beginners at some time.
Hope you have enough time to practice well.. and see some progress 
Cheers!!
charlie oud - 3-22-2009 at 01:07 PM
Very good advice Reda 
Intonation is key to musicality, most of us are
lucky to have come from guitar playing backgrounds, so well done for suggesting that method for beginners. C
Reda Aouad - 3-22-2009 at 01:26 PM
Well.. I have very little guitar background, which I took after learning oud. In fact.. It's sometimes harder to be a guitar player and then learn to
play oud.. it's true that the fingers are already flexible and the hands fast.. but sometimes it gets harder since a guitar player never seeks a
correct position on the guitar's neck but any location between two frets, which makes playing the oud a hassle at first. I don't know.. this is at
least what I observed in such cases.. maybe your guitar background helped you better..
And as I said.. this should only be a temporary solution and not permanent. True Arab/Oriental music never relies on the just intonation and/or equal
temperament of the western music.
Jaafar.. good to know that this method helped you. I suggest that you start practicing few arbitrary notes on each string.. like the sequence
SOL-LA-SI on the SOL string.. keep on repeating it and you will start getting used to hitting the correct note without looking at the strings. And of
course practice it on all the strings. Create any sequence you want and practice it.. like SOL-SI-LA-SI-SOL for example.. and you will get used pretty
fast. And I'm sure you will start hitting the strings without looking at them at all.
Please don't hesitate to ask for help on this forum. I am sure all of the members - including me - will be happy to help you with all of your
questions, each on his own way as each has built his own experience. It's always good to see a new person getting interested in learning oud. Keep
updating us on your progress.
charlie oud - 3-22-2009 at 01:31 PM
Yes, thats true. After playing guitar for many years it is strange to play the oud. Really it is ear training which helps most, sing the note then
play it. C
dubai244 - 3-22-2009 at 08:43 PM
Hi Jafar,
are you really from Dubai?
Thanks
joklany - 3-23-2009 at 12:04 AM
Hi
Yes, I live in dubai. From your user name, I am assuming you are as well?!
joklany - 3-23-2009 at 12:11 AM
Hi Reda
Many Thanks for offering to help in the future. At the moment, I use the exercises in Marina's book and the drills in Oud.Proff DVD which I got last
week. I also picked up few other books when traveling in Syria and Egypt. Most of all, this great forum has been a great help.
Many Thanks again.
Jaafar