coolsciguy
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B flat tuning
Hi folks,
I was browsing some instagram posts coming out of the Turunz workshop and one of the instruments was claimed to be tuned in B flat tuning system.
Here is the post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl8JSKKtj1p/
The tuning appears to be like:
B flat
E flat
G
c
f
b flat
Anyone familiar with this tuning?
Cheers!
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Jody Stecher
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This is the standard Arabic tuning CFAdgc tuned down a step. I have played several older Arabic ouds that sound better tuned low like that. I
wouldn't be surprised if some new ones sound best tuned that way as well.
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coolsciguy
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Thanks Jody! I wonder if they used standard Arabic strings and just toned them down or used thicker strings to maintain tension for one step lower
tuning.
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Brian Prunka
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Quote: Originally posted by coolsciguy  | | Thanks Jody! I wonder if they used standard Arabic strings and just toned them down or used thicker strings to maintain tension for one step lower
tuning. |
It depends on the size of the oud, but usually when people tune down like this, they just use a regular set.
Usually the ouds that sound best in this tuning are a bit larger, and so the "standard" oud sets actually have better tension tuned down than they do
at "regular" pitch. Like if youo have a 62cm oud, the tension of a regular D'addario or Pyramid orange set is going to be relatively high.
Most typical sets have tension a bit on the higher side anyway, and part of the desirable sound of the lower tuning is having low-ish tension.
Regarding this tuning - lots of old recordings are tuned down somewhere below C, either B or B flat or somewhere in between. Or they are higher (like
Eb Ab c f bb eb).
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coolsciguy
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Thank you Brian, your wisdom is appreciated as always.
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coolsciguy
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Speaking of scales and tension, sometimes when you tune a base string lower (or higher), it generates a magnified buzz, the type where strings start
oscillating funny and hitting each. This sometimes happens in standard tuning too. Is there a remedy for this apart from trying different strings?
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Jody Stecher
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| Quote: Originally posted by coolsciguy | | Speaking of scales and tension, sometimes when you tune a base string lower (or higher), it generates a magnified buzz, the type where strings start
oscillating funny and hitting each. This sometimes happens in standard tuning too. Is there a remedy for this apart from trying different strings?
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Rather than seek a remedy, I would probably incorporate the buzz into what I was playing. It could be musical, used in moderation.
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coolsciguy
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| Quote: Originally posted by Jody Stecher | | Quote: Originally posted by coolsciguy | | Speaking of scales and tension, sometimes when you tune a base string lower (or higher), it generates a magnified buzz, the type where strings start
oscillating funny and hitting each. This sometimes happens in standard tuning too. Is there a remedy for this apart from trying different strings?
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Rather than seek a remedy, I would probably incorporate the buzz into what I was playing. It could be musical, used in moderation.
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Thank you Jody. I actually hear this buzz in tunes from some professional players but personally find it irritating  sometimes it’s too loud and keeps ringing too long.
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dutorchi
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Is it also the case that people tune it down when accompanying singers in some cases to suit their voices? Like how Umm Kulthun's Arouh Limin fits
under the hands as rast on C but is recorded on B flat. I've been working with a singer on it and she did say B flat suits the voice much better than
C.
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Brian Prunka
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Most of the "nonstandard" tunings are indeed chosen to suit the range of a particular singer's voice. It may be a higher tuning (Sabah Fakhri for
example) or lower (Oum Kulthoum sometimes). The idea of tuning "in C" is a relatively new one and rarely the actual tuning on old recordings.
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coolsciguy
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Here is another video of the mentioned oud:
https://youtu.be/Z8fIJEyRDe4?t=1072
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Badra
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| Quote: Originally posted by Brian Prunka | | Most of the "nonstandard" tunings are indeed chosen to suit the range of a particular singer's voice. It may be a higher tuning (Sabah Fakhri for
example) or lower (Oum Kulthoum sometimes). The idea of tuning "in C" is a relatively new one and rarely the actual tuning on old recordings.
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Just beware of nearly all the old film clips you'll find on youtube from the Pal and Secam regions. They have been sped up by 4.17% during the
transfer process from film to video. That amounts to nearly a half step. It's nearly impossible to find these films at the right speed unless it's an
original filmstock or it was sold in the US by Rashid sales. TV broadcasts, studio recordings, and concert recordings should be the right speed.
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franck leriche
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This recording is part of an interview in arabic with Elia Khouri which says they are using Kurschner Arap 2 strings set on this oud. He also
mentioned that this new model was designed to be tuned in Bb.
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