Keyword: Oud

Oud

The oud, or ’ud, is a traditional Middle Eastern instrument. It has a rounded, pear-shaped body made of a variety of light-weight woods. It also has a short wooden neck, tuning pegbox, and 2 to 5 courses of paired nylon strings, usually with an additional single string.

One or more sound holes in the flat front surface of the oud are often decorated with ornate patterns and an inlay that helps to enhance the tone of the instrument. The neck contains no frets, which allows players to produce microtones common to Eastern musical scales and modes.

The strings of the oud are plucked with a pick placed between the thumb and forefinger. Traditionally, the pick is made from the quill of an eagle’s feather, although shell or plastic picks may be used as well.