jenni
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Registered: 2-12-2010
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Risha help
I am having some difficulties with deciding how to use the risha. I really want to improve the speed, especially with "egyptian technique" (is that
the right term?)
i've been told to not bend my wrist, to bend it, to move my whole forearm, to only move my wrist... it's getting confusing. and i had a recent bout of
tendonitis which seemed to go away when i changed my hand position, but i still feel tension - mind you, this could simply be because i'm still a
beginner and the muscles aren't used to it.
any advice? videos? exercises to practice?
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Mehran
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Hi jenni,
If you feel excessive tension, especially pain, or you feel your forcing a particular position, its usually a good sign from your body that the
position may not be right for you. I cant describe the perfect technique although there are a few things that I have found helpful.
Its important to bear in mind that there isn't a "standard" position. Ive seen many oud players and whilst most have similarities in their techniques,
they also have slight differences.
Im not sure what you mean about "egyptian technique", however most players tend to hold the risha between the thumb and 1st finger with the tail of
the risha resting in the palm of the hand and remaining fingers. Your grip shouldn't be too hard nor too relaxed. If too hard your wrist-forearm may
tense up making playing difficult. If too relaxed it may be difficult to accurately control the risha. The wrist is usually bent when playing, however
the angle can vary between players. I tend to slightly bend my wrist, but not too much as I found in the early days this eventually became quite
painful.
Ive been told that the motion for plucking the strings should be generated by the wrist, NOT by moving the arm (like strumming a guitar).
Practice different aspects of risha technique such as downstrokes, upstrokes, tremelo. Practice on one string, between the strings, scales, etc. The
list of exercises are extensive, you can find many on websites (see below).
The website OudCafe has some useful tips which are worth a look.
http://www.oudcafe.com/oud_basics.htm
OudProff has alot of videos on youtube that show good risha technique. He also sells a DVD that outlines the basics of learning the oud.
http://www.youtube.com/user/OudProff
It may be useful to watch some videos on youtube of different players, how they hold the risha, their wrist, how they pluck the strings.
Nasser Houari
Munir Bashir
Theres alot that can be said for risha technique, more than I can go on to say here. Im sure others will be able to provide more useful information
than me.
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fernandraynaud
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I'm no oud instructor, but what I've found is that the risha's swing is a key part of the oud's sound. Play with a short pick, or fingers, and it's
like a different instrument, an interesting instrument, but not an oud.
And it is a swing, you want to find a position where the wrist is loose and swings back and forth, the tail of the risha, like the tail of a small
rodent, helps balance the swing; a long tail helps. Don't want to choke the rodent, nor let it escape ;-) Depending on your anatomy, and the
dimensions of the oud, the forearm will feel most natural approaching from above or from below, if you look it up, it's been discussed here before. If
you tense up the arm it's more likely to cause inflammation and pain. The forearm straight, motionless, the wrist pivots and the risha catches the
strings, back and forth. Practice scales and maqamat ascending and descending, with the risha up, down, up down.
Then tremolo, faster, the risha catches the strings at an angle so it effortlessly slides into and out of the strings, for a second, two, but not long
enough to cramp up, then go back to restful, leasurely rocking, up, down, up, down. 
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jenni
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Thank you, mehran! I've never heard of oudcafe before- it has a lot of useful information!!
I love your metaphor fernandraynaud! haha. i did what you suggested yesterday, i will keep practicing - i hope with a few more hours of disciplined
practice the cramping will stop. I really think a big part of this is how much I'm bending my wrist...i've seen good oud players bending their
wrists, but maybe the tension from it is just something that usually starts showing up in the long run.
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John Erlich
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My favorite risha technique exemplar is Simon Shaheen. His style looks very "orthodox" to me, and I think that's a good place to start (though not
necessarily where you need to end up). There are lots of videos of him on YouTube.
Good luck,
John
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Mehran
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mNxwgAmTKM&feature=related
Incredible technique in this video. You can see that he repositions himself several times during this piece.
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SamirCanada
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Jenni,
I am in Ottawa now but I am from Montreal...
next time I am in montreal I will show you.
Its combination of the arm and the wrist in my opinion.
The way I explain tremolo is to think of as one of those springs you see at the bottom of the doors 
You have to start with your arm and wrist quite relaxed... lift it a little further then usual above the course you want to play it on. The important
part is the "attack" it has to come down hard enough to give your hand some inertia... as soon as the risha connect now you stiffen your arm and
continue the motion with your wrist. think of it as you hit that spring BOINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGggggggg........... practice keeping a steady rhythm and
increase your speed and length of the tremolo.
hope this helps.
you will eventually develop the muscles to get your speed and control up.
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SamirCanada
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look at 2:45 in the video merhan posted.
thats the way to do it. 
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Mehran
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Check this video though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2_Y49QKmpQ&NR=1
It just shows you can do it anyway really as long as it sounds good.
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jenni
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Yeah, that guy's wrist is bent and his thumb is bent - it looks uncomfortable! But if it works it works
where is he from btw? is this turkish or something?
On another note my tremolo has improved a lot and without tension. it's still not consistent, but getting easier. samir i liked your "boooing"
explanation-as humorous as it was, this has helped me a lot!!!
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Mehran
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Yeah, hes a Turkish musician.
The consistency will come with time, its just practice practice like any other instrument. try practicing upstrokes and downstrokes separately i found
helps.
If you havent already, you should download the jamil bashir oud methods (1 & 2). There are some really good studies in these books. The text is in arabic, but the music has western notation
(which is what is important)
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jenni
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perfect! i can print it for free right here:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=6257
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FLIPAX
Oud Junkie
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Mood: Bayyati Shuri.....
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Hi Jenny 
Philip here,
Im no Instructor also but try using the rest stroke technique in classical.
E.g. when u hit the string downstroke u rest on the next string softly then upstroke the same string normally,
This is how I do alternate. this applies in a slow to moderate tempo.
When increasing tempo the risha is getting closer to the strings as possible. Keep a steady wrist movement.
Dont Use forearm for picking just wrist rotation. (this is how I do it)
It also depends on your forearm placement. Choose which is the most comfortable postion of forearm
1. HIGH (Almost on the elbow joint on the edge of yur oud)
2. Medium ( Forearm little lower away from the elbow)
3. Low ( Forearm placement is almost near the hand or palm)
Bec I believe these 3 position dictates what kind of movement r u gonna use when picking
It only boils down to 2 choices:
1. Wrist
2. Forearm
If u r comfortable on forearm the you probably better of on the high position which yur elbows are almost on the edge pivoting.
Then if u feel better on wrist, lower it a bit instead of near the elbows
its now halfway into to your hand.
Hope u understand what I meant.
Cheers
Philip
Every time I Hear The Oud, I fall into a Deep Long Trance of Perpetual Bliss!
"Naseem Al Rooh"
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