Do Ouds sound better when tuned low? Raqsat al-Gamal, an Easy Oud Song

[@johnsheh]

Enjoy your playing. Reminds me of my father who played the oud at many public parties in Australia.

[@OudforGuitarists]

Thanks!

[@chrisrivas289]

That sounds amazing!

[@liyom-music]

In my opinion oud sounds better at the A=415Hz tuning, which is half step lower, the same which is commonly used in persian classical music. The C (which is a B in standard tuning) in this tuning resonate specifically with the oud. Just try singing this note in the main hole while blocking the string and you'll be able to notice it. The resonance is quite strong on this note. It has the same effect on my two ouds that I have at home, which are really opposite character (a turkish serial cheap oud, spruce top, and an arabic luthier oud made in lebanon, cedar top). It also explains why the oud also responds quite well to a B Sikah when tuned in regular A=440 tuning.

[@OudforGuitarists]

I have done this with one of my ouds previously as it's as you say. But I haven't tried it with all of them. I was under the impression that each instrument resonates to different pitches differently. I'll try it with the others and see which note they start to resonate with.

[@Ukraine_Rocks-OK]

Salam Navid! In Arabic, the word OUD, is it feminine or masculine? Thanks

[@OudforGuitarists]

No idea. I'm very rudimentary in my Arabic.

[@alexlt911]

Thank you for the video! Maybe it's not very rationnal but when I sometimes tune my oud in 392Hz or 415Hz I have this feeling of resting my ears, it's a bit tiring to stay in the same tuning for a long period, don't know why :) The only problem I found is unexpected vibrations when tuning low.

[@OudforGuitarists]

Yeah, I think our ears like change.

[@El_Couch_Potato]

I've noticed that all my ouds sound better tuned down, and I believe most old Egyptian composers did the same, I know for a fact Farid tuned down half a step! It's a bummer though coz you can't play along with anyone then

[@OudforGuitarists]

Unless you convince them to tune down too!

[@nicholastotoro7721]

You can always transpose your parts... 😉

[@fihrilkamal7296]

I love low tuning, I tune my oud like Farid Al Atrash in Rabee3a Taqsim.

[@OudforGuitarists]

yes, it sounds good.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

How is the string tension when tuning down that much? Did you have to adjust the neck?

[@OudforGuitarists]

The string tension is looser for sure. But imagine what gut strings would have felt like back when the oud was designed.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

@@OudforGuitarists Point taken... 🤣

[@ZakariaAli-v2w]

What about turkish ouds? Ill be getting one of those as my first oud so i wonder how theyll sound when tuned lower

[@OudforGuitarists]

I think the same applies.

[@ZakariaAli-v2w]

@@OudforGuitarists okay thanks 🙏

[@tfwnoyandere]

tuning lower makes everything better

[@OudforGuitarists]

What other instruments does this work on that you've experienced personally?

[@tfwnoyandere]

@@OudforGuitarists electric guitar, i'm tuned over an octave lower than standard guitar tuning (down to c#1 specifically) on an upcoming full length release because of the style of metal i write

[@tfwnoyandere]

bass guitar and bass instruments also always sound better when they're lower in my opinion, extended range instruments are always preferable to my ears

[@OudforGuitarists]

@@tfwnoyandere yeah low tunings work so well for metal. I can appreciate that. If you ever want any oud tracks for metal projects, let me know I might be interested.

[@tfwnoyandere]

@@OudforGuitarists damn really? i will absolutely take you up on that offer if so, tysm oud is sick