georgiagoodie
Oud Admirer
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-3-2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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My first oud!
I just got my first oud! It is a top-of-the-line Gawharet abolone-inlaid/ebony fingerboard-pegs-bridge-pickguard model that is awesome! I got
through Essam at NileShop. He was most helpful. The inlay work that covers the bowl back, neck, head, pickguard, rosettes, & bridge is stunning.
I have never seen anything like it! The construction quality of the instrument is quite high. The action is perfect, not too low and not too high.
It is set up with the "standard" 9-string Egyptian tuning - single low G, double A, double D, double G, and double C. I have been playing guitar and
bass for over 30 years, so since the tuning is in fourths, it has not been too hard to play it. I thought the risha would present some issues, but
has come to me quite well. The toughest thing is going to be the arabic scales. maqam I think? I am so used to thinking in major and blues scales,
its going to be a challenge to learn how the "think" and improv. in these arabic scales. I have been listening to a lot of Amer Ammouri and Farid el
Atrache, so hopefully I can get the scales in my head, and start playing like them......I wish! Are there any oud players here in Atlanta that want
to get together and jam? I also play Egyptian tabla, riq, and mahzar.
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MatthewW
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1031
Registered: 11-5-2006
Location: right here
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Mood: Al Salam
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Hi Georgia! Congratulations on your first oud. Post a picture of it when you get a chance! a lot of us who come to the oud also have a guitar playing
background, myself included. I found this has been very helpful, as we alreay have some dexterity of finger movement in both hands and are used to a
fretboard. Adapting to the tradional risha was pretty easy for me as well, and it actually felt quite comfortable from day one.
I found going through the 'teach yourself to play' section of this great website very helpful when I was trying to get my head around the maqams. I
pulled up a chair in front of my computer with my oud and played along with the dude with the oud. note that the tuning in the clips are from low
string to high- C,F,A,D,G,C if you want to play along. The links in this website are helpful, as are all the members, like one big family. I guess
you'll be playing 'Dixie' soon on your oud? just joking bud, but I reckon you don't see too many ouds in Georgia! 
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georgiagoodie
Oud Admirer
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-3-2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Thanks! Yes, I'll try to get a photo of my new oud up soon. I'll check out that "Teach yourself to play"
section. Yes, I'll need to come up with an arabic version of "Dixie". Mine is the first oud I have ever seen in person. Is the C-F-A-D-G-C tuning
pretty much what most arabic (Egyptian-style specifically) players use? I was thinking G-A-D-G-C was pretty popular.
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SamirCanada
Moderator
Posts: 3405
Registered: 6-4-2004
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stick to C F A d g c
its really much more versatile.
you wont regret it.
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Meursault
Oud Junkie
Posts: 107
Registered: 3-10-2004
Location: Nashville, TN
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Congrats georgiagoodie. I'm up in Nashville. We southerners aren't all rednecks, evidently.
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georgiagoodie
Oud Admirer
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-3-2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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'Good to hear from you Meursault! Hopefully, we can get together some time and play ouds. I get to Nash-Vegas on occasion.
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