spaskalev
Oud Admirer
Posts: 2
Registered: 5-5-2025
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Learning oud and cümbü? in all fourths ?
Hi, new player here. I've played a variety of plucked instruments but I've never had my hands on a fretless neck until this weekend, when I got the
following two instruments from a trip to Istanbul.
The oud is made by Sandi and has a quite thin top, already broken in with a great, deep sound and dynamic range. The cümbü? is a typical one,
although I did have to look around and pay extra for one with a bone nut.
I tuned the oud to CFADGC but I quite dislike that third. I tolerate it on guitar due to the possible chord voicings and repertoire that needs it but
do I really need it here ? I saw that strings for the cümbü? recommend DEADGC - almost all fourths with a second on top, somewhat similar to
medieval lutes. Nonetheless, I put it in all fourths and I'm having a blast playing blues on it 
Now, on to the actual middle eastern music - what do I stand to lose and conversely, gain, if I keep it in all fourths ? I've read some previous
threads that suggest open strings as drones being useful when in certain maqams. I like that style but I'm already used to fretting the bass strings
and playing stuff with the remaining fingers. Besides I can always put a partial capo - I'm not a purist, as it shows by the oud's headstock and
tuners and I'd like it to be equally functional in all keys.
Thanks!
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Jody Stecher
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1379
Registered: 11-5-2011
Location: California
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Oud and Cumbus are typically tuned with the highest four courses in fourths. The two lower courses are tuned variously.
CFAdgc is a common tuning for Arabic music played on an oud designed to play Arabic music.
Turkey does produce ouds designed and voiced for Arabic music but ouds meant for Turkish music is the norm.
Turkey has its own naming system for musical pitches. According to the names the rest of the world uses, your Sandi oud, assuming it is strung with
strings intended for Turkish music, normally would have the highest 4 courses tuned ( low to high) B-e-a-d.
Some common six string Turkish tunings:
D-A- B-e-a-d.
E-A- B-e-a-d.
D F#- B-e-a-d.
B F#- B-e-a-d.
C# F#- B-e-a-d.... which is all fourths
It has been many years since I've had a cumbus in my hands or seen one. In the 1970s all the ones I saw were tuned D-A- B-e-a-d but that may or may
not be representative. I suspect tunings are variable.
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spaskalev
Oud Admirer
Posts: 2
Registered: 5-5-2025
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Thanks, so the higher ones are like the core of the instrument and then the rest are up to the performer. That works for me - I'll start with all
fourths and adjust accordingly if needed.
The cumbus is an admirable little thing. I prefer nylon strings so this afternoon I managed to convert it to the gauges of a classical guitar string
set and it happily tuned to EADGCF. I am tempted to get a second one, put a higher nut slotted for octaves on the bass end, tie some frets and call it
a renaissance cumbus 
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