As promised, we are forging onward and this means we’re going to learn the teslim of this Samai instrumental. The teslim is like a refrain, and repeats a few times during the performance of a Samai. It’s very catchy too. So if you learn the teslim, you’ve learned most of the Samai. This particular teslim is not that difficult because it uses a short descending repetitive melodic pattern that just…
Read MoreSamai Bayati Al Aryan Part 2 – Free Oud Lesson
Here is the follow up to last weeks free Oud lesson Samai Bayati Al Aryan with Advanced Techniques. It will complete the first “hane” of this Samai instrumental. Samai Bayati Al Aryan Part 2 For those of you who like notation, here it is! This is the 2nd section of Samai Bayati Al Aryan played on the Oud with advanced techniques. Turkish Samai pieces are very well organized. This section…
Read MoreSamai Bayati Al Ayran with Advanced Oud Techniques
I’ve had a nice break during the holidays here, but I’ve taken to another task which I’m sure many people are going to benefit from. I’ve had many people suggest that I teach how to play actual pieces in these free Oud lessons, and I’ve decided to finally begin that. I’m now satisfied that I’ve covered sufficient Oud techniques so that anyone who is new to the series can jump…
Read MoreDoubling Up Part 2
This article is all about taking a simple melodic passage and doubling up the notes played to spice it up. If you haven’t seen Doubling Up Part 1, check out it below. Doubling Up Part 1 Now I’m going to show you a simple level above what is shown in Part 1. This is Doubling Up Part 2. What you’re going to learn is one of the hallmarks…
Read MoreVibrato!
This is a technique I was asked to do by someone on YouTube. Actually, it’s amazing I hadn’t thought of doing this technique yet myself. So thanks again to the person who suggested it! Another strange thing, I actually was never formally taught how to play this technique… It just started to happen naturally, probably just from years of playing different string instruments. So here’s my way of…
Read More3 Stroke Trills
Are you ready for a workout? Let’s play some trills together. But I’ll be honest, it’s difficult to define this one. Call it what you want, it’s really good to learn!!! I’ll let the video speak for itself: 3 Stroke Trills difficulty: intermediate to advanced What? This is a 3 stroke accent played on two notes with a stroke pattern of DOWN UP DOWN. Why? It creates rhythmic…
Read MoreBouncing Down the Stairs – A Taqsim Technique
If you liked last week’s post that showed you how to create a short musical phrase and turn it into a longer musical phrase, then you’re going to like this week’s post. This is another technique you hear during taqsim. I call it, “Bouncing Down Stairs”. Check out the video below to learn how to do it! Bouncing Down the Stairs Difficulty: easy to moderate What? This technique is…
Read MoreThe Descending Pattern Technique for Taqsim
The Descending Pattern Technique is something you will definitely hear when you listen to Middle Eastern music. You’ll hear it in short phrases and in longer phrases. It’s used during taqsim and in compositions. In essence, it is simply a musical phrase that gets repeated on different notes descending the maqam or scale. It’s like creating little musical theme and then copying it on different notes making a longer…
Read MoreThe Doubling Up Technique
This is one of the most easy ways to take a simple melody and make it more interesting. I call it the doubling up technique. Learn how to do it below: The Doubling Up Technique Difficulty: Easy What? The doubling up technique is taking a melody and adding more notes. On musical notation it looks like this: You’re basically adding another note for every 8th note you see turning them…
Read MoreSimon Shaheen Riff from “Blue Flame” – Using 3 Stroke Accent
Last week you learned how to play a 3 Stroke Accent, and now you’re going to learn a cool way to apply it by learning a riff that Simon Shaheen uses in his song “Blue Flame”. Check it out in the video below! Simon Shaheen’s Blue Flame I highly recommend checking out Simon Shaheen’s album “Blue Flame” with his band Qantara. It is the most modern and virtuousic Oud…
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