The Oud

The oud is a stringed instrument that is most used commonly in the Arabic, Turkish, and Middle Eastern musical traditions. The instrument consists of a wooden body and acoustic sound chamber (Usually pear shaped), and 11 or 12 strings arranged into 6 courses. Each of the 6 courses contains 2 strings, usually tuned an octave apart from each other. Many ouds have only one sting on the top course which is used to accentuate passages by placing a low “Tonic” pitch during rests. 

The oud is thought to be one of the many ancestors of the modern guitar, the other major one being the European lute. The oud differs from the lute and the guitar due to the much shorter and thinner neck, and the lack of a fretted neck. This lack of frets allows the oud to be easily played in any given makam, which will often consist of semitones that are difficult to reach on a fretted instrument. 

The first video clip I found consists of a fairly traditional oud solo. The performance begins with the player performing an un-metered virtuosic solo on the instrument. Not that he is using the instrument mostly to play single notes in fast sequences, rather than playing chords (He begins to use chords more after being joined by a drummer). 

Here we see a more modern interpretation of oud performing. This video is particularly interesting because you can easily see how the instrument is plucked. This video is also a good example of the top course being used to produce a drone throughout the performance. 

This video is an oud piece being accompanied by a middle eastern orchestral group. This is also one of the only videos I found where the performer sings while playing the instrument. 

This video shows the oud in more of a background role. The performer is mostly strumming chords and playing counter-meoldies, only occasionally taking the lead role. 

My final video is simply a guitar solo performed on the 12 stringed guitar. You can note the similarities in playing styles: Low droning notes underneath higher notes moving more quickly. You can clearly see the impact that the oud has made on modern stringed instruments. 

EDIT:

This video popped up in my "Recommended for you" section on YouTube this morning. It's kind of the coolest thing that I've ever seen. (Features many instruments we've talked about in class).