Moose03 - 1-11-2007 at 03:30 PM
I need help tuning my oud, i am using a tuner and was told by Maurice to tune it CGDAF. But i am unsure of what Reference Pitch or frequencies to use
when tuning. I have done a search on the forum and found nothing.
The tuner has freq range from 435-445
Thanks
Hosam - 1-11-2007 at 04:15 PM
Concert A is 440 Hz. I hope this will help.
stringmanca - 1-11-2007 at 05:05 PM
Is the CGDAF low to high or high to low? It will make a big difference! Most likely it is high to low (with F being the lowest in pitch single
string and C being the highest in pitch double course).
Depending on which tuner you are using, it should be in tune when the correct note is showing (C, G, D, etc.) and the needle or light is on 440.
Moose03 - 1-11-2007 at 05:21 PM
the first string is C it is a deep pitch the last is F but it is the high pitch
sorry i don't know that much this is my first musical instrument .
but i am a fast learner
amtaha - 1-11-2007 at 05:31 PM
Would this help ... ?
http://www.oudcafe.com/stringing_and_tuning.htm
I'm guessing you're aiming at FAdgc, with c for the highest pitched string (one closest to the ground) and F for the lowest pitched string (closest to
the ceiling)
Greg also posted some midi files (zipped) over here
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=2420#pid148...
Welcome aboard, and enjoy the ride ..
Regards,
Hamid
Mike - 1-12-2007 at 01:45 AM
How many courses are on the oud Moose03? If you got the oud from Mo directly, I'm almost certain he used the La Bella with the high f course. That's a
six course set. So that would mean you don't have the single bass C string. So from Low to High you would tune (F A D g c f ) as amtaha suggested.
Moose03 - 1-12-2007 at 06:37 AM
ok i attached a picture it is a 5 course set.
I got it from him directly as well as the tuner and he told me to tune it
1- C
2- G
3- D
4- A
5- F
Now he told me to change the frequency when tuning as well but i forgot that.
I am totally new to this so any help is good. I have contacted a teacher but i will not start until a month or so. But i wanted to get used to holding
the oud and tuning and such.
Brian Prunka - 1-12-2007 at 06:52 AM
The first string is the highest string, so if he said 1-C, then the highest pitch should be C, the lowest F. Looking at the strings, this also makes
sense, since it doesn't look like a high-F set, and I've never heard of anyone tuning their oud in 5ths.
Moose03 - 1-12-2007 at 08:44 AM
Ok thanks
i will try that out
Brian Prunka - 1-12-2007 at 09:46 AM
Incidentally, this oud's fingerboard is definitely wide enough for 6 courses, so you could add the low C at some point (you'd need to have a new nut
made and the bridge holes re-drilled). I'm not sure if the pegbox has 11 peg holes, but I would guess it does.
Moose03 - 1-12-2007 at 07:41 PM
ok so i finally tuned everyone except the G one of the G strings snapped.
so i need to find the la-bella strings in toronto.
excentrik - 1-12-2007 at 11:32 PM
Moose03-
order them from Jameel. Khalafoud.com- He's a senior member of the forums here and he will get you the specific string... no need to order the whole
set (unless you want an extra just in case you get some more "POW!!!"
Hey Moose03, dont worry about it- once you get the hang of it its a snap (no pun intended). I thought I busted a string yesterday, but it turned out I
didn't tie it well enough... you'd think with ten years of classical guitar and six years of oud, you wouldn't have that happen...but you know- keep
at- it's all good-
Tarik
Moose03 - 1-13-2007 at 05:05 PM
Thanks Traik, but i found a place in Toronto that sells them.
they sell LaBella Ou-80 which i am pretty sure is the one i need.
If anyone knows otherwise please do share.
Mustafa
SamirCanada - 1-15-2007 at 08:54 PM
Get the labella's from Jameel too. Its fast delivery and the price will be better anyway you look at it.
Iam in Ottawa and I know what kind of prices canadian compagnies are asking for there strings.
Regardless. Labellas arent the best strings out there. I would try either pyramid or Aquila before if I were you.
Moose03 - 1-18-2007 at 05:34 AM
Actually I had to special Order the ones i needed they are the OU-80A
and I will stick with labella for now because that is what Maurice Shehata told me to use.
Tuning - Urgent
spyrosc - 1-18-2007 at 10:55 AM
The reason the string snapped is because they gave you the wrong order. Guys please don't give advice unless you are absolutely sure.
The C is the high pitch (strings closest to the floor).
Spyros C.
SamirCanada - 1-18-2007 at 06:12 PM
Thats one thing.... Spyros your right.
The other thing to note is that Shehata's come with special Labella strings that have a high ( closest to floor) F tuning. Dont confuse the order of
the strings.
Moose03 - 1-19-2007 at 10:48 AM
ok so which one is it
CGDAF - f closest to the floor
or
FADGC - C closest to the floor
Jameel - 1-19-2007 at 01:02 PM
It's FADGC - C closest to the floor
Shehata usually ships his ouds strung this way. This is typical Arabic tuning. Most players add a single C course (bass) to the bass side, next to the
F. (See blue letters in the pic)
Others instead of adding the single C, add a double f'f' course to the treble side, next to the c'c' course. (See yellow letters in the pic)
A 7-course oud has BOTH added. There are variations of course, but this is basic.
I don't mean to be too nit-picky about this, but a lot of confusion about this can be easily solved by simply using the proper symbols for the octaves
as such:
C Bass
FF (two letters mean two strings)
AA
dd
gg
c'c'
f'f' Treble
I should add that the LaBella Arabic set does NOT contain the single C, but DOES contain the 6th course f'f' pair.
Moose03 - 1-19-2007 at 11:02 PM
Ok i have the Ou-80A on order from elite music in Toronto. When they come in then i will post how it works out
Thank You Very Much Jameel and for future reference are you able to get the OU-80a strings from labella if so then the next time i need them i will
order from you.