Mike's Oud Forums

Experimenting with 11th string tuning

Lysander - 12-15-2013 at 11:06 AM

My Turkish oud is tuned to C#F#BEAD. However, I want to experiment with tuning the C# one semitone higher to D, since it would be quite useful. Would it damage the oud to do this and should I be looking to still buy strings that are C#F#BEAD?

Jody Stecher - 12-15-2013 at 11:58 AM

To get an informed answer more information is needed. What is the scale length of the oud? What is the brand of string? Without that info the answer is "it's probably safe". I can also add that a string gauged for D at 58.5cm (such as Pyramid lute 1035) sounds good at C# and also all the way down to B. But it depends on the bass response of the oud as well.

Lysander - 12-15-2013 at 01:15 PM

Hmm I don't know the brand of the string since I'm still using those the oud came with. But the scale length is 58.5.

Jody Stecher - 12-15-2013 at 01:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Lysander  
Hmm I don't know the brand of the string since I'm still using those the oud came with. But the scale length is 58.5.


I think the oud is safe. You're going to like how the oud sounds this way.

Lysander - 12-16-2013 at 02:42 AM

Thanks, Jody. With so many makamlar in E and D, it makes a lot of sense like this. It gives an extra dimension to the playing.