freya - 4-27-2005 at 09:25 AM
Apologies in advance for asking a Saz question here but it is peripherally related to Ouds. I have just gotten a Baglama Saz (7 strings, 39 in.
overall) and would like to tune it so it could be best played in duet with an Oud (arabic tuning). I see there are many different Saz tunings but I
have no idea what the best tuning would be when playing with an Oud. I've actually only seen Buzuq and Oud playing as a duet but I assume the same
could be done with a Saz. Any advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated. If the question is inappropriate here feel free to point that
out...
Thanks,
Harry Norris
Haluk - 4-27-2005 at 11:16 AM
If your saz is longneck with 24 frets,you can use:
A-D-G
A-D-A
A-D-F#
A-D-C tunes as the maqams.
If it is shortneck A-D-E is the best.
Regards.
freya - 4-27-2005 at 01:07 PM
Haluk,
Thanks for your kind reply. Two clarification questions if you don't mind. First, is "A" the western "A" or Turkish "A". Secondly, I assume the
string order goes (for example) A D E from the A string closest to the player's chest while the E string is closest to the player's leg?
Thanks,
Harry Norris
Haluk - 4-27-2005 at 02:32 PM
Hi Harry,
A is same as piano,bottom strings closest to your leg.
D middle and E is top strings.A-D-E tune is for shortneck 19 fret baglamas.
Regards.
Haluk
Tunings
wfspark - 4-28-2005 at 02:44 PM
Hey Haluk. It's William. Just letting you know that the note A in the United States and Western Europe would be considered D in Turkish music. This is
because at one time the oud was tuned to A. Now in the Western tuning the lowest string is actually E. So, the tuning you are describing is A D G is
actually E A D in the West. I learned that the hard way. I tried tuning the oud to A D E A D G, and broke some strings. I'm just trying to help you
and Mr. Noris out. I hope no offense is taken.
Happy ouding from San Antonio Texas.