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 long time ago, so I’m happy that we started this technique series because I can finally get to it. Watch the video below to learn how to do it!   Bass Note Jumping – Melody Embellishment Oud Techniq ..read more

A fascinating phenomenon in middle eastern music is that we have in Arabic and Turkish repertoire some shared repertoire that originate from the Ottoman school of music that permeated their way into Arabic music. However, these pieces are generally performed in such a way as to demonstrate a unique aesthetic. An important distinction between Turkish and Arabic renditions of the same composition are in the intonation of microtones employed in maqams rast, bayati, sikah for example. There are also an interesting set of Ottoman repertoire that seems to have caught on rather strongly in the Arabic ..read more

As a Persian musician, I was always fascinated when I first heard the difference between Arabic and Turkish microtones because I could hear that something was very similar to Persian music, but also very different. Some of the differences I was hearing were so subtle; it was marvelous, and a little bewildering. It took me many years to reconcile, understand, and apply the difference between Arabic and Turkish microtones to the shared repertoire in Arabic and Turkish music. I would like to share some of the specific details I have learned over the years after studying Arabic and Turkish music w ..read more

You can learn 3 essential modulations in Arabic music from only 1 easy Oud song. The song “Ya Mal Al-Sham” is a well-known song throughout the Arab world. I chose this song to go into my new course “Easy Oud Songs” because the melodic phrases are short and easy to comprehend. What makes this song extra powerful is that it features 3 modulations. The main part of this song is in Maqam Rast. You can derive many modulations from Maqam Rast, and I like to think about Maqam Rast like the mother of all maqamat. It’s like a super highway-interchange. 3 modulations Maqam Rast to Maqam Jiharkah Maqam ..read more

Here I am with my Oud in Japan. I’ve visited Japan a few times since 2010, and this is the first time I dared to bring my Oud to Japan. I decided that on this trip I would contact some Japanese middle eastern musicians this time because… hey, there are A LOT of Darbuka, and Oud players there… And, why not… So here’s the short of how it went:   Oud in Japan: Meeting Musicians in Osaka   I had connected with some Japanese musicians on Facebook. I was lucky enough to arrange a meeting at a music rehearsal space in Osaka. At first I thought I was just meeting one person, but he ended up ..read more

  I’m an introvert.   Playing the Oud allows me to enter my own world.   Even though I have a lot of performing experience, I think playing the Oud has always been a stress reliever, and I always get energized after I play the Oud.     How about you? Are you an introvert? Oud practice   I come to the Oud from Persian music. Persian music, at it’s core, is a very introspective music. Sometimes I feel like Persian musicians play for themselves, and let others listen.   Quiet – Susan Cain   I’ve been reading this book called “Quiet”. I didn’t expect th ..read more

  Today you’re going to learn about a really important genre of Arabic music. This music is timeless and ancient. It is very different in tone and feeling than Arabic music in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt. You can call it Sawt Al-Khaleej, or Sawt for short. Sawt music is the Arabic music I find very intriguing. The rhythms are very unique, and the Oud playing is absolutely furious. I love how edgy it is. The first time I heard and saw Sawt music, I thought it was something completely unique. I don’t know many non-Arab musicians who actually know any of the repertoire. It’s ..read more

    If you don’t know anything about me, the first thing you should know is that I only started listening to Arabic and Turkish music about 8 or 9 years ago. I’m Persian, I grew up listening to traditional Persian music, and the bulk of my musical education is in Persian music. So when I started to listen to Arabic and Turkish music I noticed that the quartertones (or half-flat notes as some like to call them) are played differently. I have a little rule that I follow to help play different genres of Middle Eastern music, because between Persian, Arabic, and Turkish quartertones, th ..read more

  Want to play like a pro? Then I’ve got just the technique for you. I call it, the Chraibi Slide. Check out the video below to learn how to do it!     The Chraibi Slide – Oud Technique   Difficulty: Advanced Prerequisites techniques: Trill, Tremolo, Slide. See the Foundation Program to learn how to play these core Oud techniques in-depth.  What? The Chraibi slide is a flourished slide that I’ve only heard played by Said Chraibi. It is a descending slide or glissando accompanied by tremolo plucking. Why? It’s a cool technique that will help you practice your tremolo a ..read more

  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 you’re playing is important because it gives your playing some variety. Sometimes certain melodies sound nicer when the notes are short and crisp, or maybe the composer intended to make certain notes short. T ..read more