Mike's Oud Forums

Iraqi oud - CFADGC tunings - strings

Edessa - 10-18-2017 at 05:38 AM

Hello,

I just got my first oud (a beautiful Zeryab floating bridge - Iraqi 1). I am superexcited to start learning but I would like to tune it the way Marcel Khalife does - CFADGC.

Anyone with similar tuning? I am thinking Pyramid Orange, but am concerned whether they are long enough to accomodate the scale length (59-60 scm), from the nut to the peg (up to 20 cms for low C), some wounding (at least another 6-7 cm) and the distance from the bridge to the end of the soundbox (anouther 15 cm). Are Pyramid at least 100 cm long?

Any other suggestions?

Many thanks!

majnuunNavid - 10-18-2017 at 09:01 AM

Just take off the high f string, and move the cc strings to where f was and do the same for the all the strings. Then buy a single bass C string and put it. That's how I have my floating bridge oud set up. Usually I buy la bella strings for high f tuning and an extra bass string, I put aside the high f and just use the rest.

Edessa - 10-19-2017 at 12:30 AM

Yeah that's a good idea Navid. Many thanks, will have to get another F though cause I only have one. But will do that. Cheers.

Does anyone else play floating bridge in this tuning?, how do you guys solve it?


Edessa - 10-29-2017 at 06:55 AM

Hi all, an update - could not find single C anywhere so at the end ended up getting Pyramid orange full set. They seem to be around 100 cms long so definitely long enough for my oud. stalled them all yesterday and I am getting a lot of buzz from FAD strings and some slapping on the fingerboard. I moved the bridge a bit further to increase scale to get more tension but that did not help a lot. I'll leave them on for a couple more days to see if it settles but i suspect the tension is just too low. I have quite low action about 2.5 mm and want to keep it. Seems like pyramid orange is not the right thing for floating bridge.

Any suggestions, experiences?

Matthias - 10-29-2017 at 01:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Edessa  
Seems like pyramid orange is not the right thing for floating bridge.


a floating bridge needs a higher tension. See here:
https://music-strings.de/Aoud-Saiten-2-1

If you follow the instruction, you will find a sets which will be good for your instrument according to the scale.

Best regards

Matthias

Edessa - 10-31-2017 at 06:32 AM

Hi Matthias, I have just been through your websites and you are doing some fine job putting together these sets.

I re-measured my scale and since the fingerboard (without the nut) until by the spot where the soundbox joins is exactly 195 mm I see that my scale is actually 585 mm and the right set for me is thus: SO_c_585_Hfl_ Ny_P069.

I could have saved myself some money and not try the plain Pyramid orange...

Anyway, my order has been put through now! :)

Your order no.: IB-2017-6470
Order date: 31.10.2017 15:29:20
Status: Paid

Thanks a lot
Peter