Mike's Oud Forums

Ouds for Women

MatthewW - 12-8-2007 at 04:26 AM

Hello all- I have a lady friend who is interested in playing oud. She would like to have any information on ouds made specially for women. I assume this would mean having a slightly smaller bowl size, and perhaps a shorter string length as well.
I think this question may have been asked a few years ago, but there seems to be little info available for women looking for this type of oud.
If any of you can share any more information on this subject it would be very helpful. If any of you knows a lady who is playing on an oud that was built with the female sensibilities in mind, and we can get some feedback from her and the specs on her oud, that would be great.
Thanks!:)

dubai244 - 12-8-2007 at 05:39 AM

Hi Matthew,

I wished i can help but all the girls i know have no idea about music ... !

Thanks

Oud Freak - 12-8-2007 at 05:56 AM

MatthewW, about ladies' oud, I don't know about their availability in UK. All I can tell u is that the workshop of Mr. Ibrahim Sukkar in Aleppo, makes smaller ouds, used by most of the girls who study the instrument in the lebanese conservatory, I remember having seen two smaller sizes than his large sizes, and they have a nice particular charming and catchy sound as well.
Regards

zalzal - 12-8-2007 at 06:53 AM

http://www.eraydinsazevi.com.tr

http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=820#pid5977

MatthewW - 12-8-2007 at 08:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dubai244
Hi Matthew,

I wished i can help but all the girls i know have no idea about music ... !




Dubai, now here's a good opportunity for you to offer music lessons! ;)

thanks Oud Freak and zalzal for the info.

looking forward to more replies, and maybe even one from a lady oud player with a special oud. THANKS

Ronny Andersson - 12-8-2007 at 10:22 AM

Interesting this:cool: Do I need to give the measurements?

MatthewW - 12-8-2007 at 12:38 PM

Ronny, do you mean of the oud? :D

seriously, if you have them yes.

zalzal - 12-8-2007 at 01:22 PM

MatthewW if you go to the Buy & Sell Ouds you will find the thread "5 unique iraqui ouds" which Oud.Prof is selling. The one the lady above is playing is a Fawzi Munshid OUD made at Basra. You can even listen to a nikriz audio file.

Soundbox length: 48cm (19.2")
Soundbox width: 38cm (15.2")
Soundbox depth: 19cm (7.6")
Fingerboard length: 19cm (7.6")
Bridge Style: Floating Bridge, 6 course

Ronny Andersson - 12-8-2007 at 02:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MatthewW
Ronny, do you mean of the oud? :D

seriously, if you have them yes.


I have measurements for them both but lets focus on the oud;)
The Fawzy I have is most likely uncomfortable for most women as it is for my wife, since the bowl is 22cm deep and soundboard is 32cm wide. So this Fawzy is little deeper and wider than the older model for sale. Smaller Turkish ouds should be fine and I really don't believe in the ¨pear¨shaped model suitability for women.

Oud Freak - 12-9-2007 at 12:34 AM

The pear ouds are kinda exotic! I've tried some. The shape is really weird in my opinion, and the grip is not that comfortable even for small sizes. I totally agree Ronny. By the way and where and by who did the pear-oud idea arise? (Not joking). I fancy that a pineapple shaped oud would be also nice to be tried :P (certainly joking now)

Sazi - 12-10-2007 at 02:02 AM

MatthewW, your friend might find a Turkish "Hanim" Ud (57cm) or many 57cm Iraqi Bashir-style Oud such as a Haidar Najm Abboud or Fawzy Munshid should be comfortable, and I can fully recommend she ask our very own Oud.Proff. for any Iraqi oud. He is great to do business with and packs an oud for shipping very safely. (I had a Hanim Ud and I think my Haidar is less deep, more comfortable)

veyselmaster - 12-10-2007 at 02:22 AM

Hello matthewW
I send to you zenne ouds picture .there are two still model zenne oud in turkey muzik
first model body length 45 cm clavye length 18.5 cm second model body length 42 cm clavye length 18 cm this models have used ottoman masters (manol ,ali galip, ohannes uzunyan )
others model my father have made body length 47 cm clavye length 19.5 cm.
I send my fathers for woman oud pictures two model.

veyselmaster - 12-10-2007 at 02:24 AM

body calıps wood mahogany and paduk

veyselmaster - 12-10-2007 at 02:25 AM

zenne oud

veyselmaster - 12-10-2007 at 02:26 AM

body wood tik and mahogany

MatthewW - 12-10-2007 at 02:40 AM

thanks sazi and Veysel for the information. Those are very nice looking ouds Veysel. this thread will be a very useful reference for others with the same question.

Sazi - 12-10-2007 at 02:57 AM

That's an interesting (and small) looking oud on the left in the glass case.

Ronny Andersson - 12-10-2007 at 08:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sazi
MatthewW, your friend might find a Turkish "Hanim" Ud (57cm) or many 57cm Iraqi Bashir-style Oud such as a Haidar Najm Abboud or Fawzy Munshid should be comfortable, and I can fully recommend she ask our very own Oud.Proff. for any Iraqi oud. He is great to do business with and packs an oud for shipping very safely. (I had a Hanim Ud and I think my Haidar is less deep, more comfortable)


No I forgotten to tell that the Fawzy with its deep bowl is not a good choice for women. The bowl need to be shallower. Also the neck can be problematic for players with small hands.

woman oud section link

MatthewW - 12-10-2007 at 11:01 AM

Yes Ronny, I would also assume that a shallower bowl would be preferable for a lady. It would be nice to actually have some feedback from any women out there!

I just came across this lovely older thread on woman and ouds which is very interesting and worth checking out, and would link nicely with this thread:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=3146#pid268...

Sazi - 12-10-2007 at 01:31 PM

Ronny & Matthew, sorry if my post sounded misleading, I was referring to a short scale 57cm, which has a body depth and neck length of only 19cm.

dubai244 - 12-10-2007 at 08:12 PM

Hi Guys,

I think electric oud will be another option for womens oud players.

Thanks