Jins Rast is like a super-interchange on the highway of maqams. I approach modal music in some ways the way a linguist would approach language. In the same way, my personal theory of modal music is that there exists a proto-mode from which all modes originate. I believe the proto-mode is Rast or the tetrachord Rast. In response to a question, I wrote the following on MikeOuds Forums some time…
Read MoreMaqams: A Tapestry
I used to think maqams had 7 notes, like Western scales… and I used to think they were very rigid. But now, I see maqams more like a mosaic, or like a tapestry… This tapestry has been built on for thousands of years, added to, destroyed and lost, adapted, and sometimes simplified or reduced, but they are connected and webbed together by common threads. Today I want to show you the…
Read MoreOfG Q&A: Why and how small deviations from a maqam doesn’t really count as a full modulation to another maqam.
The other day I received this very good question from a student from the Step-by-Step Taqasim program: “Hi Navid, I noticed that on the first page of this Taqsim, all the B’s in the bass part are B quarter flats. Yet the Bayati scale and key signature shows the B to be a simple Bb. Could you say why the quarter flat is used here and not Bb? With a…
Read MoreArabic Maqam 101 – the Friendliest Maqam Crash Course
Struggling to understand how maqams work? Can’t seem to figure out how they work together in a piece? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who is mystified by the world of maqam. In fact, that’s one of the biggest challenges for Oud learners and other Middle Eastern musicians. But it’s also an indicator that your understanding of Arabic music is coming to a mature level, so you should give…
Read MoreWhat to do FIRST when you’re stuck with Oud learning
Today many of us Oud players are lone wolves. Yes, there are communities of Middle Eastern musicians everywhere in the world, but we spend much of our time, blood, sweat and tears… practicing on our own. I actually enjoy the independent practice. It’s a bliss when I can dive head in to my own world of Oud music. …But at times, we get stuck. You can’t seem to play your…
Read MoreAre you a minimalist or extravagant Oud player? Compare these 2 Oud pieces.
These days you hear the term “minimalist” in describing one’s interior design, fashion or lifestyle, but what about Oud playing? Some Oud players like to keep their pieces simple highlighting a few robust techniques, and others prefer to sneak in technical arrangements in every phrase that they play. So today, I want to compare these 2 Oud pieces and see what you think. Have a listen to both, and try…
Read MoreHow do you create an “oriental-sounding” melody? – OfG Q&A
One of the best parts of running OudforGuitarists is that I receive emails and get to hear from all types of musicians around the world. The other day I received an email from a flutist who is also interested in frame drums and ney. Our email conversation turned into a very interesting discussion, so today I wanted to share it with you. Here’s something that stood out for me…
Read MoreThe Oud has no place in Persian music…
After many years of knowing this intuitively, I’m finally saying it out loud… the Oud has no place in Persian music. Well, to be more specific, Classical Persian Art Music. Before I go any further, I want to add that this an opinion piece. I haven’t read many historical books or gone into first hand sources on this subject. I’ve only read what has been passed down in encyclopaedias and…
Read MoreTranscribing Simon Shaheen Taqasim
“Think with your voice when you listen to Arab music. It has a linear quality like the voice. Concentrate on its melodies, and listen to how they interact with the rhythm.” – Simon Shaheen The above quote is the best advice for learning middle eastern music. I’m serious, there’s so much you can learn by yourself if you actually use your voice and learn what you’re hearing. The YouTube channel…
Read MoreHow to deal with Oud pegs (slipping, getting stuck, etc)
I’ve never used any type of peg compound to keep my Oud pegs free from slipping or getting stuck. Here’s how I get away with it. 1. Be patient, and observe how your Oud pegs react to humidity. 2. Use the push+turn method. It takes some time for an Oudist to get accustomed to how his/her Oud pegs behave under different humidity conditions. Nevertheless, you can feel free to push…
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