New Oud tuning… I’m really proud of this discovery. I’ve always been searching for a way to conveniently tune my Oud to play Persian Dastgah based on C. This tuning does exactly that. The problem The problem with the Oud and Persian music is that sometimes you need to play Dastgah Shur in the key of C. This is awkward on the standard tuning of the Oud. There is a…
Read MoreArabic Rhythms on Oud: Malfuf
Arabic rhythms… Hey, I have a new video on YouTube video for you. It’s all about playing Arabic rhythms on the Oud. This rhythm is malfuf. It’s a 2/4 rhythm. You’ll often hear it in the longa style of tune, Arabic belly dance music, and folk music. It’s often used as a way to change up the usual 4/4 rhythm in Arabic music. The tempo can stay the same, but…
Read MoreThe Dark Side of Learning Taqsim – Learn Taqsim
Learn taqsim… Easier said than done… This post is about the hard truth about learning how to play a taqsim on the Oud (or any instrument). The reality is much harsher than anyone wants to admit. And so, I made a video about the Dark Side of learning taqsim. I want you to see exactly what you have to do to learn how to improvise or play a taqsim on…
Read MoreSkype Oud Lessons
Skype Oud Lessons Do you have any burning questions about the Oud? Are you feeling stuck with your Oud playing? Do you need exercises for the left hand or the right hand? You can now get Oud lessons on Skype from me. You can be a bare beginner, a novice, or an intermediate player. You can get Oud lessons tailored to your specific needs. Lesson times: North America…
Read MoreWhere is the Oud going?
Recently I’ve been really wracking my brain around something. And I think I need your help with it. I’m really wondering… where the Oud is going… for me, for the world, for everyone… Where are we taking the Oud? I want to know what’s next. I wrote a post on MikeOud Forums about it… I wrote: “I’ve always been interested in encouraging the development of the Oud in education, in…
Read MoreThoughts on The Persian Radif
I was emailing an OudforGuitarists subscriber about the Persian Radif of Persian traditional music and I thought I’d share some of my thoughts about the Radif here in relation to his questions. The question was basically: What is the role of Radif for a performer? Is memorization of the radif necessary? “As for memorization, even I have not memorized the radif. This idea is a remnant of the past where…
Read MoreBuy Your Dream Oud – An Ultimate Guide for You
I’ve recently made some updates to the Ultimate Oud Buyers’ Guide so you have the most up-to-date information about buying an Oud. I’ve also created a new PDF format that you can download and read on your own time. To download, click the picture above, enter your name and email address and click the checkbox to receive emails. I will email you the Ultimate Oud Buyers’ Guide right away and…
Read MoreYildirim Palabiyik Oud: First Sounds
So I’ve been playing this Yildirim Palabiyik Oud for a couple weeks now, but I made a video of what it sounds like basically after getting it in tune the same day after unboxing. My first reaction to this Oud was that the sound was incredibly balanced from high string to low string. It gives a clear, crisp, yet mellow sound. The strings are still new and I’m breaking them…
Read MoreYildirim Palabiyik Oud UNBOXING
Recent events have taught me that I have a lot to learn about what makes a good Oud, and what a good Oud sounds like. Enter: Yildirim Palabiyik Oud. In December, I ordered a Yildirim Palabiyik Oud. I’ve been dying to get my hands on one. Anyway, it arrived last month, just as I was leaving the country for vacation. I got back last week and I was finally able to…
Read MoreExactly What To Do When You Learn Maqams
In the last few posts, we’ve talked about some of the big mistakes I’ve made trying to learn maqams. The 3 mistakes were: Taking theory books too seriously Thinking that maqams are scales Trying to do it all by myself Most people believe they need to know a lot of theory and a lot of details in order for maqams to flow through you musically, and authentically. Instead,…
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