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Brian Prunka
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Risha Grip
Hey Everyone,
One of the great things about playing with Simon has been watching his hands close up on a regular basis. Recently something struck me about the way
he holds the risha that I had never examined very carefully before.
Basically, he keeps the flat side of the risha flush against the palm of his hand. I noticed in my own playing that the risha tends to drift towards
my fingers, often flush against the last finger joint and consequently perpendicular (or nearly) to my palm. Having made more of a conscious effort
to keep it flat, I notice better articulation (especially at faster speeds), more control, less tension, and more economical wrist motion. I don't
know if this will be helpful to everyone (I'm certainly not going to say it's the "right" or best way to play), but it sure is helping me.
In case my descriptions aren't clear, I took pictures.
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Brian Prunka
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Yes:
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Brian Prunka
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No:
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Brian Prunka
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Yes:
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Brian Prunka
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no:
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Brian Prunka
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yes
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Brian Prunka
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nope:
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jwold
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So Brian,
Your photos are excellent. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have a question though.
It seems that with this grip, with the tip of the risha poking out almost like a screwdriver (or an extended thumbnail), that you have to really bend
your wrist in order to get a good angle of attack?
Just wondering...thanks
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Greg
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Thanks for going to the trouble of providing photographs, Brian. That is very helpful.
Regards,
Greg
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Jameel
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Very nice Brian. Thanks for taking the time. Any tips on Simon's technique is always welcome. It's amazing how small changes can make a huge
difference. I keep an oud at work, and just playing short 5 minutes bursts sometimes makes a real difference. I also noticed that if you can force
yourself to calm down and relax, technique improves dramatically. For novice casual players like myself this can really improve playing.
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Brian Prunka
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Jwold,
Actually, exactly the opposite is true. the way that the tip pokes out makes it possible to play with an almost perfectly straight wrist, with
virtually no bend (as Simon in fact plays). This allows, among other things, more variety of attacks and more effective upstrokes.
It takes a little getting used to, but you should find that a nearly straight wrist gives you a perfect angle of attack with this grip.
I should note though, that this assumes your arm is coming around the front of the oud (directly in line with the neck) and not around the top. This
can be difficult for people with short arms and large ouds.
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amtaha
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Mr. Prunka,
Thank you for a wonderful advice.
As you've said, it is feeling a it awkward at the moment, but I think it's just a matter of time before getting used to. But an interesting thing is
that this hold is making tremolos on thicker strings more accessible. For a moment, too, I've actually noticed that I momentarily lost all "woosh"es
marring my picking. As with everything else, further practice will show.
The thing that keeps me wondering, however, is the amount of risha that is loose, i.e. beyond the left edge of the thumb. I don't seem to manage to
get "control" when I make as it should be (more correctly, as I see it with most players), and when I play, I unconciously start making that loose bit
shorter. I've also noticed that I do this with different stiffness.
Thanks again,
Hamid
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abusin
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Thanks a million Brian,
This does really improve playing, and much easier and faster attack  
PS: what risha type used on photos, just curious as it looks fab,
best regards
Awad
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jwold
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I will try coming around lower down. I messed about with it a bit this morning before heading off to work and found it really slowed me down...though
I am a complete novice at this coming from a guitar/banjo playing background.
I think I was coming more in from the top of the oud, and with the risha extending out from my thumb, I couldn't hit the strings without my wrist
being completely bent.
It sounds like the attack of the risha (sounds like a sci-fi film, eh?) with a straight wrist is more parallell to the strings as opposed to say a 45
angle...does that make sense?
Brian if you can, I'd like to see a photo from "your eyes" perspective looking down over the top as though you were playing to check out that wrist
angle..though I think I understand what you are saying.
I think the oud I have is somewhat large, but I have never been accused of having short arms...dragging those knuckles on the ground has always been a
problem...
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Brian Prunka
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Amtaha,
You've indirectly hit on another benefit of this grip. With very slight adjustments of your thumb and index finger, you can vary the stiffness and
length of the risha tip. I know what you're talking about, and I don't think it's entirely undesirable, but is one way of playing that can b e
useful.
However, keeping the risha longer and focusing wrist oscillation and forearm rotation may help you get control of that aspect of playing. It's hard
to describe, but I think if you practice it, you'll see what I'm getting at.
Abusin,
It's just a plastic risha. I don't know how to describe it. It's not the soft rubbery yissi type, or the pyramid type. I spent a lot of time shaping
it.
Jwold,
The risha is still coming in at an angle. It's hard to take pictures while holding the oud, but I'll try. This grip does allow you to vary the angle
quite a bit, though. Incidentally, I'm planning a trip out to Portland soon, maybe we can hang out.
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palestine48
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i am no expert and far less experienced than brian. but the way my teacher taught me to hold seems very similar to what brian is discovering.
but instead of going through the step by step picture procress that brian is showing. the most effeciant way i am finding is to make a cirlce out of
your thumb an index finger like as in your making the hand symble for the term "ok".
the risha should be in between the the conections of the finger tips as if its preventing them from touching. then wrap the rest of the fingers
around the risha.
p.s. my teacher says if someone were to sneak up on you and slip the rish from your fingers it should easily come out. if the person is facing
resistance then you are gripping the risha too tight.
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LeeVaris
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Risha Video
I posted a short video of Afif Taian's right hand. Afif has a great percussive attack with a solid rythm. This video focuses on his picking hand from
a few angles so you can see the angle of attack.
http://www.varis.com/Oud/Afif-risha.mov
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LeeVaris
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Another One
I just realized that this last movie was from only one angle so here's another one from a different angle:
http://www.varis.com/Oud/Risha-2.mov
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Brian Prunka
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Hey Lee, that's really interesting. As far as I can see, Afif is holding the risha in the way I described, but unlike Simon his wrist has a pretty
extreme angle.
This is why I stated before that I'm not saying anything about the "right" or best way to play . . . I've seen too many oud players get amazing
results with techniques that are very different. There are some great players who swear by having the risha go between the 3rd and 4th finger.
I'm curious about how long Afif's arms are and if it has anything to do with his wrist angle.
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Lysander
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Bumping this - Brian, the photos seem to have gone. Do you have them to hand [if you pardon the pun?]
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Brian Prunka
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I think Mike purged old photos from the forum a couple of years back . . . I will see if I can find them, if not I will take new ones
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luan
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Wow, interesting discovery. Hope you can find the original pictures 
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Brian Prunka
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I might just do new pics anyway . . . I'm sure I've refined the grip since the original post in 2007
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Lysander
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Would be excellent, Brian. Very much looking forward to it.
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majnuunNavid
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Looking forward to seeing these.
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