Udi Hrant
Oud Admirer
Posts: 1
Registered: 2-23-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bastirma
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My Struggle
My Struggle
I am a 3rd generation American of Turkish AND Greek descent (Karamanlides).
I grew up with Middle-eastern music in the background of my life, hearing
bouzouki and Oud music at weddings and picnics. As I became more and more
interested in the history of my family I also started to listen more to Oud
and Rembetika from the 30s and 40s. Finally one day I fell in love with the
music of Udi Hrant and others from his era and now all classical Oud music.
One day in a fit of mindless enthusiasm I bought an inexpensive Oud from
Ebay. I said to myself that I would just like to own it, maybe hold it for
a while and then hang it on the wall. After all I know nothing about music,
have never taken a music lesson and can only read and speak English so I
would have no chance of learning to actually play it.
Nevertheless - because I am crazy (notice the mixed Turkish-Greek
background) I AM trying to play the bloody thing! If anyone can help me in
my crazyness I would appreciate it. I have already been assisted by many
who share their knowledge on various web-sites.
Here is my method so far:
A ) I tune the Oud by using a mechanical tuning meter and I'm using the
Turkish E--A-B-E-A-D scale (From low to high) with each pair tuned the same.
B ) I'm learning to pick the strings using a plectrum although originally I
found it more comfortable to use my index finger.
C ) I have tried to type the notes into a music composition program which
then plays the tune so that I can memorize it before trying to find the
notes on the instrument but have now discovered a web site which posts some
sheet music along with a sample of that music (Thanks Mav.) Using this
music I play a short piece of it on my MP3 player repeatedly until it is
drummed into my thick Turkish brain. Only then do I attempt to torture out
the tune on my Oud.
Using this method the results are very slow and not too pretty. One problem
is getting the timing down. The timing on even a simple piece such as Mahur
Sas Semai is tricky and subtle compared with an American or British rock and
roll melody. But the main problem - even harder then getting the fingering
down is to strike the notes correctly without frets. It is just so easy to
do what is easy for your fingers even when the notes sound sour.
If anyone has any pointers or suggestions for an ABSOLUTE Oud beginner I would appreciate it.
If your suggestion is to give up - forget it. No one is going to take away
my Oud now even if I sound so terrible that I have to move into a cave.
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spyros mesogeia
Oud Junkie
Posts: 896
Registered: 9-10-2003
Location: WASHINGTON DC
Member Is Offline
Mood: play my ouds
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Dear friend,
Believe me,the Mahur saz semai is not an easy track.....anyhow,I really sugest you if you really like the oud,the ''our'' type oud
to start with a good teacher and start to listen the makams correctly.....
Start only with exercises and play simple,but correctly.....
That is my sugestion to you
Regards
P.S.Leave for the moment the semais .....they are very dificult to play them correctly at the beginning....
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mavrothis
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1674
Registered: 6-5-2003
Location: NJ/NYC
Member Is Offline
Mood: big band envy
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yes, unfortunately, i don't have time to make the oudcafe a complete teaching experience. even if i did, i'm not sure it would be enough to
replace a live teacher sitting with you personally.
i think you should really concentrate on folk songs in the beginning, combined with listening to all types of music. over time things will come more
naturally for you.
remember to enjoy what you're doing, and not to be too hard on yourself or to get too easily discouraged. and by the way, just like your
personal heritage, our music is also of mixed origins, so you are 'custom made' for it. 
take care,
mav
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