Oud — Lutherie Encyclopedia

OudType: instrumentA fretless, short-necked, bowl-backed instrument that is the ancestor of the European lute and central to Middle Eastern, North African, and Turkish music.## History The oud (Arabic: al-ud, meaning "the wood") is one of the oldest stringed instruments in continuous use, with origins tracing back over 3,500 years to ancient Mesopotamia and Persia. It spread throughout the Islamic world during the medieval period and was introduced to Europe via Moorish Spain, where it evolved into the European lute. The oud is considered the "king of instruments" in Arab musical tradition and is the principal instrument for teaching maqam (the modal system of Arabic music). Ziryab, a 9th-century musician in Córdoba, is traditionally credited with adding a fifth pair of strings. The oud remains vital in the classical and popular music traditions of the Arab world, Turkey, Iran, Armenia, and Greece. ## Construction The oud features a deep, bowl-shaped back constructed from thin strips of hardwood—typically walnut, maple, or rosewood—bent and assembled into a rounded form. The soundboard is spruce or cedar with one to three sound holes, often decorated with elaborate rosettes. The neck is short and wide with no frets, allowing for the microtonal inflections essential to maqam performance. Standard Arabic ouds have 11 strings in 5 double courses plus a single bass string, while Turkish ouds typically have 11 strings in 6 courses. Scale length is approximately 24 inches for Arabic models and 23 inches for the smaller Turkish oud. Strings are nylon or gut, played with a risha (plectrum) made traditionally from eagle quill or, today, from plastic. ##…