Mike's Oud Forums

Why Risha must stop to the under string ?

Tulis - 12-29-2023 at 06:55 AM

Hello, i remember that my teacher talk that when i impact the string, the risha must stop to the next down string. It is this way right and why ?
This is not anyway comfort.

Jody Stecher - 12-29-2023 at 08:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Tulis  
Hello, i remember that my teacher talk that when i impact the string, the risha must stop to the next down string. It is this way right and why ?
This is not anyway comfort.


1) If you use gravity rather than muscle the risha will naturally come to rest on the string below. This is very comfortable for the hand of any person. Let the hand fall. The wrist should be loose. There is wrist movement.

2) Oud strings are double. If you make a stroke and then avoid resting on the double string below you must make an outward movement. This usually results in only the top string of the pair being struck and this means the sound is half of what it would be if both strings are struck.

3) Even with single string instruments a rest stroke has deeper, fuller sound than a free stroke

4) With a rest stroke there is less noise from the risha.

5) some excellent oud players do not rest their risha on the double string below and they play good sounding free strokes.

6) all of the above applies to downstrokes. Upstrokes are different!

Tulis - 12-30-2023 at 12:00 AM

Thanks a lot for the analysis. You gave me the answers I was looking for.