or rather what can you make one out of?Hatem_Afandi - 10-12-2008 at 08:35 AM
Hi Oud987,
Tie wraps might be an alternative. Any slice from a soft plastic bottle will do too. All you have to do is flatten the plastic to your preferences.
You may use a fine sand paper to remove any sharp edges.
Good luck,
HatemAmer - 10-12-2008 at 09:23 AM
I personally use a risha made out of a dish washing liquid bottle.. works perfectly after a little fine sanding and shaping Oud987 - 10-12-2008 at 11:25 AM
Thanks guys,
I cut one out of an old plastic food storage container. Looks about right!!! Amos - 10-12-2008 at 06:26 PM
Najib used a piece of credit card once at the retreat (i tried it and found it useless but he certainly made it sound great)...i have used a cut piece
of soda bottle as i like the softer rishas...you can also borrow a quill from a passing eagle depending on your agility...katakofka - 10-12-2008 at 11:35 PM
This is the pick I used in the video I am showing my Fadi Matta Oud by the wayJohn Erlich - 10-13-2008 at 09:22 AM
Hi Oud987,
All the advice above is useful.
The thing to remember is that oud players all have different preferences for risha/mizrap which vary according their picking style and the instrument
they play. I have experimented with plastic bottles and never found any material that works for me. For my Arabic oud (Shehata) I use a thin, hard,
springy risha that I bought in Cairo. For my Turkish ud (Eken), I use sanded nylon cable ties (the best material I ever found for this was a [metric
sized?] tie I found on the street in Dublin, Ireland! Can't seem to find anything the same size in the USA.). For my Najarian, I mostly use the
squishy soft plastic mizraps I bought in Istanbul.
You will just need to experiment and find what works for you. If something doesn't feel or sound right, don't despair, just try something else.
Good luck,
JohnHatem_Afandi - 10-14-2008 at 07:32 AM
I still suggest that the best supply of risha's is the talented Jameel Abraham. http://www.khalafoud.com/picks.htm
He does cover all the styles I am aware of.
I am not exaggerating if I say that all of us in North America are lucky to have some outstanding artist like him available for help.
The next best alternative is the horn risha. However, I was EXTREMELY disappointed when I stopped by almost every oud shop in Mahammad Ali St. in
Cairo, asking for a good quality one.
Actually, Walking down that street was a rather sad experience. It transformed to completely different area where the dominating business became
selling furinture.
Musical instrument shops turned to "tourist area instruments" outlets. A HUGE difference from what it was while I attended high school in Egypt!!!!littleseb - 10-14-2008 at 07:41 AM
I have used the plastic bones found inside a shirt collar. They have the perfect flexibilty for my style of playing. If you manage to get hold of a
seventies shirt with extra-long diso-funk collars you have a good chance to find very long plastic bones that will fit nicely into the palm of your
hand.
Give it a go!
Seb.Hatem_Afandi - 10-14-2008 at 07:45 AM
Seb,
This is what I used during my young days. If you live in the US or Canada, you will find these in Men's Stores. I am sure you will find them in BHS
too!!!! Good point!Kelly - 10-14-2008 at 09:39 AM
How about getting away from plastic and try more natural materials. A friend of mine was recently using pineapple leaves- the base end. It sounds
quite soft/warm has a nice feel to it tho not longlasting- keep a few leaves spare and enjoy the fruit!Hatem_Afandi - 10-14-2008 at 11:59 AM
Kelly,
That sounds rather "creative". Thanks for sharing.
