Oud: Musical Instrument With A Difference

Have you ever heard about a tool or an instrument called ‘oud’? If not, then you should know that oud is a musical instrument that is very much similar to that of guitar. It is a popular musical instrument of the Arabian nation. It is as popular as guitar in western countries. The presence the music produced by this oud can be clearly felt in music of Middle Eastern countries.

European lute and Arabic oud has origin from the same musical instrument. Oud in Arabic literally means piece of wood with a shape of straw. There is also a belief that Arabic people has borrowed name of oud from Persian word rud which means an instrument with strings.

There are various features that differentiate oud from similar instruments like guitar and lute. Frets are absent in oud which makes one to identify oud very easily. The neck of the instrument is very short when compared to other musical instruments of guitar and Violin.

There are eleven strings on out all together only one is fitted single and all others are paired. Its body is bowl shaped unlike guitar and violin that have flat backs. The tone quality of the oud greatly depends on the shape of it and also helps to resonate. Oud has generally one to three holes which can be either circular or oval. They are decorated with a wooden rosette or carved bone.

Oud is constructed very similar to that of lute where thing stripes are joined on edge. Generally light and dark shades of wooden stripes are used for constructing it. There is odd number of staves in it. Quarter cut dense hardwood is used to make high quality oud instruments.

Though the oud instrument remains the same and is constructed in the same pattern, the quality and tone of the music greatly differs for various regions. The most common Arabic oud seen is; Syrian oud that is slightly larger than ordinary oud generally with lower pitch. Iraqi oud that is has thirteen strings when compared to 11 strings in Arabic outdate extra two strings are fitted for high pitch. Egyptian oud has a pear shaped body that is very ornate and one of the most decorated oud available. Turkish oud is generally smaller when compared other types of ouds which was part of Greece music traditionally. Persian oud is smaller in size to Arabic oud and is called a barbat slightly varies in tone and is used for high tone music.

So with wide range of them available you can choose any depending on your music requirements. Electric oud can selected to enjoy music of a sound in band. If you are interested in making your kids familiar with the instrument then you can gift them child oud. They are beautiful not only in looks but also in their tones.

If you are searching for best place to buy popular and professional ouds then internet is a better place where you can search for all types of ouds in few seconds and also compare quality easily. You can buy oud at best prices in online oud stores. But remember to shop it from only reputed companies that manufacture them from reliable online stores.

If you want to listen and feel the beat of ethnic musical instruments, you should try oud. It has a distinct sound that creates music to hear. Or you may want to try chinese gong.