ShadowSanctum
Oud Admirer
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Registered: 3-26-2004
Location: South Casco, Maine, USA
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Oud Techniques For Guitar
Hi, I've been playing guitar for several years now and have recently been fascinated by Arabic and Middle-Eastern music. When I heard an oud for
the first time I was absolutely spellbound. I would love to expand my horizons of guitar (until I can afford an oud) by maybe learning some oud
melodies or techniques for guitar. I've tuned my nylon-string to DGADGC as in the style of Egyptian ouds. If anyone could show me some links to
sites or provide some info on how I could play some oud stuff on guitar, it would be much appreciated. It would also help me learn a little bit more
about the instrument itself as I know practically nothing about playing oud.
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
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Welcome,
Try this page to get you started
Then seriously consider buying an oud. Another thread on this forum mentioned a decent oud for $119. It's possible of course to play some
Egyptian songs (or Turkish or Greek, etc.) on the guitar, but playing "oud stuff" on the guitar is not a reality. They are two completely
different instruments. There is plenty of support here to get you going, including the videos. Check also the links page (David Parfitt's site,
and Oudcafe are very good) for more basic info about the oud.
Good luck
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2946
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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I second Jameel's suggestion of getting an oud, although I always feel it's worth investing in a better instrument as it makes playing more
rewarding . . .
Like you, I've played guitar for years (quite a few guitarists-oudists on this forum) and was attracted by the oud. While you can play some
traditional pieces on the guitar, the quarter-tones (which are impossible on guitar, practically speaking) are ubiquitous in Arabic music. Without an
instrument that can play quarter-tones, you can't play any music written in Bayyati, Rast, Saba, Sikah, Huzam, Suznak, Jaharkah, etc. You can
play the music of Anouar Brahem or Rabih Abou-Khalil, and a handful of traditional pieces that have no quarter-tones, but it's pretty limited.
Like Jameel said, you can't play "oud stuff" on guitar, at least not any more than you can play "flute stuff" or
"violin stuff" on guitar. You can try playing your nylon string guitar with an oud pick, which will get you a little closer in sound (and
help you prepare for playing the oud), but as an oud convert (well, not exactly, since I still play guitar a lot) I can say nothing is like the oud
except the oud. Just go for it, you'll be glad you did . . .
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ShadowSanctum
Oud Admirer
Posts: 4
Registered: 3-26-2004
Location: South Casco, Maine, USA
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Alright, thank you for the adivice. Although, until I can afford an oud, are there any links to perhaps, some of the sheet music to the pieces you
were saying I would be able to play, such as the Egyptian, Turkish or Greek songs Jameel mentioned?
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2946
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Mood: Stringish
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here you go:
my site
turkish music
more turkish music
more turkish music
arabic music
oudcafe
bear in mind that the turkish music needs to be transposed down a 5th for an Arabic-tuned oud. Also, the accidentals can be tricky. see david parfitt's site for a good explanation of the various notations.
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