Where does the Oud come from?

Oud is documented in this archive as a string tradition associated with Middle East. Open the culture guide from this page for regional context.

How difficult is the Oud to learn?

Difficulty varies by player and pedagogy. Use the difficulty field in the quick facts panel as a relative guide, then listen to specimen audio and explore related instruments in the same family.

Instrument · ancient

String

Oud

Name: Oud
Brand: Middle East
Availability: OnlineOnly

The oud is the grandfather of the guitar, with its pear-shaped body and hauntingly beautiful sound that defines Middle Eastern music. This 11-stringed instrument has no frets, allowing for the microtonal scales essential to Arabic music.

Catalog

Sample

Overview

Cultural context

Central to Arabic classical music, representing the soul of Middle Eastern musical tradition

Legendary players

Marcel KhalifeArtifact →
Anouar Brahem—
Munir Bashir—

Specimen note

The word 'lute' comes from the Arabic 'al-oud', meaning 'the wood'.

Technical specifications

Exhibit datasheet · derived from catalog fields

Materials & construction hints: See specimen tags and description for construction lineage
Tuning & pitch: Pitch material is tradition-specific; see description for scale and temperament context.
Register & role: String · typical use: Arabic Classical, Middle Eastern, World
Acoustic range (general): Harmonic content follows string length, tension, and resonator; partials differ by construction.
Market class (indicative): $150-1500

Historical context

Central to Arabic classical music, representing the soul of Middle Eastern musical tradition The oud is the grandfather of the guitar, with its pear-shaped body and hauntingly beautiful sound that defines Middle Eastern music.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Oud?: The oud is the grandfather of the guitar, with its pear-shaped body and hauntingly beautiful sound that defines Middle Eastern music. This 11-stringed instrument has no frets, allowing for the microtonal scales essent…
Where does the Oud come from?: Oud is documented in this archive as a string tradition associated with Middle East. Open the culture guide from this page for regional context.
How difficult is the Oud to learn?: Difficulty varies by player and pedagogy. Use the difficulty field in the quick facts panel as a relative guide, then listen to specimen audio and explore related instruments in the same family.

Discovery web

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