5 Steps to Learn Oud without a Teacher or a Book (#3 is ridiculous…)

This is an article for those of you who want to start learning the Oud but have no idea what to do with the instrument once you get it in your hands. This is for those of you who don’t want to buy a book, or have no access to a beginners book and want to start right away.

I get a lot of emails from people who want to learn the Oud but have no idea where to begin. They ask…

How do you start practicing?

What should you play?

5 Steps to Learn Oud without a Teacher or a Book

Step 1. Tune your Oud

Watch my video on how to properly tune your Oud. You can start by using a digital tuner, but eventually you will be able to tune completely by ear.

Step 2. Learn how to hold the Oud and pluck the strings with a Risha properly.

You’ll need to learn how to properly hold the Oud and pluck it with a Risha (plectrum). Sign up for the Oud for Guitarists newsletter below to receive exclusive access to Lesson 1 from the Oud for Guitarists Foundation Program to learn exactly how to do it.

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If you have no musical background go to step 3. If you have a musical background or understand the concepts of scales and can hear the the differences between notes go to step 4.

Step 3. Sing and Play the Oud

If you have no musical background whatsoever, then this might be a challenge. But what you have to do is hum or sing a song you know really well. It doesn’t have to be anything special, it can even be a song you hear on the radio. Just remember one thing right now: your voice is a musical instrument you’ve been given from birth.

Have you ever sung Happy Birthday? Try it right now.

Yes I’m serious… sing happy birthday…

Your Oud is just an extension of your voice which you manipulate with your hands.

Now pick up your Oud with the melody of happy birthday in your head, and try to match your voice to your Oud.

You might notice that it’s kind of awkward, but keep trying until you find the notes that you’re singing.

Once you find the notes, the next step is a little more difficult… but bear with me.

Do you remember a time when you were singing happy birthday with a group of people and people started singing different pitches, some people started singing higher, and some lower, but in the end you all ended on the same note or pitch?

Well, you and your Oud can do this too.

Step 4. Find the major scales on your Oud.

If you play an Oud in Arabic tuning, it is very easy to play the C major scale.
If you play a Turkish Oud, the D major scale is easy to find.

Start playing these scales you can find up and down. Then try minor scales.

Step 5. Start by playing simple songs you already know.

Learn to play some very simple tunes on the Oud. When I first started playing the Oud I already had an ear for music and was able to put on a CD and attempt to play along with it. Start simple, teach yourself Happy Birthday.

What Happens Next?

You are now well on your way to becoming an Oud player. If you want more information about the Oud, check out the Oud for Guitarists Tips and Advice page and start immersing yourself in the world of Oud music. If you haven’t already, subscribe for our newsletter below!

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