Another important Oud technique is called a hammer-on. It is an important guitar technique as well. I remember when I first learned how to play hammer-ons on the guitar, I thought it was such a cool technique. I spent all my high school years listening to Jimi Hendrix albums, and wanted to play music like him. His use of hammer-ons is extensive and advanced. Playing hammer-ons are easier on…
Read MoreThe Muting Technique – Playing Short Staccato Notes
You’re going to learn another important nuance that is found in all types of music. I call it the… Muting Technique It allows you to cut off the note that you have played so you can play notes short and staccato. Watch the video below to see how it’s done! Muting Technique – Basic Left Hand Oud Technique Difficulty: Easy Why? The ability to mute the notes…
Read MoreAccented Tremolo – Basic Right Hand Oud Technique
I am so happy to see that you are following the Oud technique series videos and articles. This one is about a basic and fundamental Oud technique called… Accented Tremolo This is a technique that can be used in pretty much any situation. It is used Oud styles as it is fundamental to creating music on the Oud. Accented tremolo is also very important in Persian music. I…
Read MoreBass Note Jumping – Melody Embellishment Oud Technique
We are following up last week’s drone technique video with a technique that will help you embellish your melody and help you sound like a pro, I call it… Bass Note Jumping. This technique is widely used by professional Oud players and in theory is very easy, it just takes some practice to get the right intonation. I was actually specifically asked by someone to discuss this technique a…
Read MoreThe Drone – Right Hand Oud Taqsim Technique
After talking with the Oud for Guitarists community we realized that people often struggle with 2 things when learning or playing the Oud: 1. Maqamat and 2. Techniques! That’s why we created the Maqam Mastery Program, and now that it has been completed, we’ve decided to start making a video series demonstrating various techniques that can be used on the Oud. They may be right hand techniques, they may be…
Read MoreOud Maqam Learning Part 1: Maqam Learning Made Easy!
Okay, so you want to hear a melody, understand it and be able to play it authentically… But you find maqam music so hard to play, can’t recognize the maqams by ear, or remember them all…or all of the above? If so, check out this Oud Maqam Learning video series: Part 1: Maqam Learning Made Easy! (you are checking out this one) Part 2: The Ultimate Introduction to Maqam Music…
Read MoreHelping You play Along With Records – Transcribe!
I have wanted to make a video about tuning your Oud to a recording in order to practice along with it. But I wanted to show you this first. I was referred to a tool that can help you change the pitch of the music you are playing to instead of you changing the pitch of your Oud too much. It is called Transcribe! Why Should Oud Players Use…
Read MoreCan You Count To 10? – Sama’i Thaqil – Samai Rhythm
When was the last time you had trouble counting to 10? It was probably when you were 5 years old, or maybe it was the first time you tried to play or listen to a Sama’i instrumental! I want to share something very quick, short and easy that you can use to keep track of the beat of a very pesky rhythm in Arabic music called Sama’i Thaqil, and Aksak…
Read MoreSaid Chraibi Album Review/Analysis – Oud
Some of you said in our survey that you would like to know “what combination of technique, knowledge and execution it takes to emulate the great masters.” Well, let’s get familiar with some big names. In the next few months, I will write a series of articles discussing “celebrity Oud styles” and reviewing albums. Today, I want to discuss one of my favorite albums, Said Chraibi’s Oud. After reading this…
Read MoreElectric Oud – Godin MultiOud
Have you ever imagined a world where there exists heavy metal middle eastern music? Well, I have been entertaining the idea for a while and thought I would try it out. So I borrowed my friend’s Godin MultiOud last week and hooked it up with Ibanez Tube Screamer to see what would happen. I wrote a few licks of what I imagine heavy metal middle eastern music would sound like…
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