shareen - 9-25-2008 at 08:10 PM
I am new to oud playing...a guitarist all my life, and recently a student of flamenco. As a Westerner, I am finding it hard to really GET the "aire"
(as they say in Flamenco)..the feel and soul of Arabic music. My playing always sounds like I'm playing the guitar but on the oud. Guitar
ornamentation is very specific, and I can't get away from it when I am playing the oud. It's just imbedded in me from 40 years of playing (oops I
just revealed my age somewhat). How do I break out of this and start sounding like an oud player and not a guitar player playing oud? Any good
videos I can look at that really show the ornamenation SLOWLY, particularly on the right hand where it seems to really happen? Suggestions and help is
greatly appreciated.
SamirCanada - 9-25-2008 at 08:44 PM
We can use the word ornamentation when describing some specific techniques or combinations for the oud.
For example we can repeat in the bass register a phrase that has just been played in the high register, its a nice technique.
Also you can support the note played with the same note but in the base register.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_KMg10fss&feature=related
look here exactly at 56 seconds.
you can also modulate to create a nice effect.
Listen for the modulation at exactly 1:04. wasnt that nice?
thats another way to create nice emotions out of playing.
These are all actual techniques but it doesn't replace "Ahsas"
when you are playing, the feeling (Ahsas) needs to be there.
its reached by.
listening to a lot of professional oud musicians,
by practicing often and reaching a level that allows you to express your feeling trough your instruments.
its not all about techniques you see. But when the technique can be used properly with the right feeling its amazing.
listen to these clips, these are examples of pure mastering of the instrument in my humble opinion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZr_GkWm8gM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9ojOwjWT0w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bdyf1R3jNM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1eVrsDZKw
wsb3383 - 9-25-2008 at 09:12 PM
Thanks for opening up this subject Shareen, i'm wondering about that too.
Samir, (and others),
What about hammer-ons and adding grace notes? this is what seems so hard to me!
Thanks!!
shareen - 9-25-2008 at 09:23 PM
Wow..Adel Al Fadli...is he Saudi? Beautiful playing. Thanks Samir, for the insight. I wish I could put these videos into The Amazing Slowdowner to
look closely at the right had technique. I think I need to disect the techniques that make the playing sound uniquely Arabic and learn to do them,
practice it over and over and get it imbeded into me so it become second nature. I express myself on the oud now just fine. It just sounds like a
guitar!! 
shareen - 9-25-2008 at 09:25 PM
wsb3383: Yeah, the hammer ons, pull offs, grace notes as we call them. You can play them on the guitar, but when you play them on the oud it's a
whole different animal when you are coupling it with rishi technique. That's what I have trouble getting...the syncronization between risha and left
hand. I need to NOT use hammer ons and pull offs like I do on guitar. That's the trick.
DaveH - 9-25-2008 at 11:19 PM
Hi All
As a beginner (OK intermediate - I've been trying to learn for 2 years now and can no longer use lack of time playing as an excuse for my ineptness),
I benefitted a lot from some lessons with Ahmed Mukhtar, where he went through some basic types of ornamentation.
In response to a couple of similar threads previously I started compiling a short menu of basic ornamentation techniques. While it's difficult to
separate these out when you hear someone playing, this kind of short list can help learning. The attached is only has four basic techniques. It's very
rudimentary and I'd appreciate people with more experience adding to it or correcting it, wiki-style, but maybe it could form the basis for a
something that would help beginners parse the dazzling displays that you can hear on professional recordings. As Samir says though, listening to those
recordings is the last word in understanding how to put it all together.
I wanted to post examples in staff notation but don't have the technology. I'll work on this but if anyone else can add (and even a few sound clips)
that would help.
katakofka - 9-26-2008 at 12:40 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHZv7rP5WTo
I suggest listening and watching carefully this video. A master piece in ornamentation
jazzchiss - 9-26-2008 at 01:08 AM
Hi, Dave, nice document, but you miss the vibrato ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibrato ) and the glissando ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glissando )
More info: ornamentation
SamirCanada - 9-26-2008 at 04:50 AM
Shareen, the player is Abadi el Johar,
he is saudi yes.
Kataftoka, Allah y3atik el 3afieh.
that was fantastik!!
katakofka - 9-27-2008 at 08:47 PM
Samir 
Check that too. Muhayyerkürdi Saz Semaisi composed by Sadi IŞILAY played in here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ngXggvhaPA&feature=related
And played by Yordal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Lqg4PkTvI&feature=related
Compare both. Check what Yordal is doing, attack, nuance and ornamentation all the way. Another master piece by Yordal