niceiraqi1
Oud Admirer
Posts: 3
Registered: 3-20-2012
Location: Fairfax, VA
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Mood: Ambitious
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Is It Really Necessary For A Lefty to Switch String Order?
As a guitarist, I have found it absolutely necessary to change the order of a right-handed guitar for a left-handed person like me to play. This is
largely due to the fact that you have to play chords in certain positions and it's an incredible chore to try and learn them in reverse. Also, string
bending requires that you bend upwards and it won't really work with the higher strings.
However, the way I see it with Ouds is that chords are not really fundamental to the instrument, and there is no vertical bending that I know of. So
other than that is there anything actually preventing me from simply learning to play a right-handed oud upside down? I had a lot of issues (pegs,
string buzz, probably because I deviated from the standard peg positions) when I tried to restring it for a left-handed person.
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ndeshpande
Oud Admirer
Posts: 9
Registered: 1-30-2010
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Check it out!!! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ob6iFwojI
As you can see, its certainly possible.
Best of luck 
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rootsguitar
Oud Junkie
Posts: 144
Registered: 7-12-2012
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One sure way to improve anyone's musical skills is to challenge yourself and to set goals to strengthen whatever it is you think you could improve
on...being a lefty may have it's influence on short term approaches to music, but I wonder if our long term perspectives are similar. Prove me wrong!
I may take for granted my " right hand " lens. Just saying---life is pretty short, I'll make time to hear your music if there's something interesting
you can bring to my ear---best wishes-------cool jam in that workshop btw, it's a whole different level to create these instruments too, ahya! I
listen and try to take it all in----
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Mood: Stringish
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I'll just point out that traditional Arabic oud technique is very reliant on the use of consecutive downstrokes (economy picking) and that many things
that are normally played on the oud will require different techniques with the strings reversed. This may not necessarily be detrimental, but one
might consider that the strings are the way they are for a reason.
For Turkish style, which tends to use more alternate picking and less tonal variation between upstrokes and downstrokes, it would be less of an issue
I would think.
As that video shows, it is certainly do-able, though I would like to hear that play do some repertoire in tempo to hear how he deals with the picking
issues.
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rootsguitar
Oud Junkie
Posts: 144
Registered: 7-12-2012
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btw Brian I find your oud music adventurous and cool----It will take me some time to hear more, but your ability to join forces with other musicians
is a strong point as is your traditional compass--I will continue to re consider and re approach Oud traditions too, takes time I think, for things to
sink in.
Technique is respected exactly because of the time it takes...weather with a saw/chisels or great sounds created on the strings.
-best regards
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rudeog
Oud Addict
Posts: 33
Registered: 1-10-2010
Location: Raleigh, USA
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Here is another lefty playing with the bass strings at the bottom:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drj02y-rNCE
I am left handed myself, but decided when I first started playing guitar/bass to play right handed so that I didn't have to have special instruments
or string layouts. My teacher is also left handed, but plays right handed (and he's amazing). I'm glad I did, as it allows me to pick up other peoples
ouds etc and play them and vice versa. I do sometimes wonder though if my right hand technique would ever approach that of a "righty" with same
experience. On the other hand (if you'll pardon the pun), I have tried strumming with my left hand, and it just feels awkward at this point.
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