alloushé
Oud Junkie
Posts: 100
Registered: 4-28-2010
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Strings Choice Questions/Pyramid-7 courses
Hi guys,
I have some questions about strings if you can answer them because i am confused.
hypothesis:
I play Oud in high arabic tuning-FADGCF
Questions
1- I regulary see on websites something like "Courses are always tuned in 4ths" what does it mean this instruction?
2- How to read and comprehend this table?
http://www.khalafoud.com/Images/Misc/Daddariosingletensions.pdf
3- is there 7-courses pyramid strings?
4- how to do for a 7-strings oud? is the "Arabic 12-string Labella Set" suitable for 7 courses Oud? (by puting a single FA and a single Do as the 6th
and the 7th string)
4- What does Pyramid basically change in the sound of the Oud?
any additional information for strings choice is welcomed
merci
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alloushé
Oud Junkie
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no body knows?
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Matthias
Oud Junkie
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Location: Badenweiler, Germany
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Hello alloushé,
have look here
http://www.lutes-strings.de/english/Matthias-Wagner_Downloads.php
and download my file about different oud stringings. This will give you some solution and ideas about strings. If questions remains, send me an
email
regards Matthias
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alloushé
Oud Junkie
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thank you Mathias, i will check this.
but where is the file to download?
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fernandraynaud
Oud Junkie
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Location: San Francisco, California
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A lot has been written that you should search through. The info below is for Arabic tuning. Turkish is tuned a note higher, the instrument is a little
shorter, so that makes sense.
1 . when you tune as your A D G C F those are fourths, look up definition of a musical interval called "a fourth". The bottom two courses are often
retuned to match the piece or maqam, but the A D G C sequence is always there, plus the high F if you tune high. The low strings "should" be B and E
to fit the "ascending fourths", but if you check you will find that few maqams center on B and E, so C and F is a common retuning, giving : C F A D G
C F for 7 courses or just drop the high F for 6 courses.
2. the table shows tension for given strings tuned to specific notes at different scale lengths. Thus a plain nylon 0.020" string on a typical arabian
610 scale oud tuned to f (fa) will give 3.7 Kg of tension, which is good. The next string down, the c (do), should be around 0.025" if you want about
the same amount of tension, you "eyeball-interpolate" in the chart. A thicker string like a 0.028" would give 4.11, more tension than you might
want. Capisce? The "w" strings are wound strings. So for instance the silvered coppper wound on nylon type 0.034" for your bass string tuned to F (fa)
will give you 3.98 kg.
3. & 4. IF you are tuning to high Arabic, then you buy a normal 6 course set and add a pair of thin strings for the ff course, as above you can
see that 0.020" is a good gauge. You set the bass string aside for when you tire of the high tuning. You DO need a thinner pair for the f (fa) course,
you can extrapolate in the table (or use a calculator) to convince yourself never to tune a 0.027" c string up to f.
The gauges and materials determine the tensions and sound. There are no mystery properties (or mystery oud) that would allow you to tune a 0.027"
nylon string on a 61 cm scale to ff without danger.
If you are unsure, it's wise to spend $10 on a micrometer or a digital caliper that can read string thicknesses.
A 7 course set is just a 6 course with an added ff course, and I don't know if Pyramid sells a pre-made set.
There is nothing unique about any string manufacturer, but every string type will sound a little different. The materials, and the way they are
assembled determine the tension and the sound.
The main issue is not stressing the oud, as it is much lighter in construction than a guitar. Generally 4 - 4.5 kg is considered tops for the fixed
bridge oud, whereas a Spanish Guitar can handle 8 kg and a Western Guitar can take 12 kg or more.
This is why a 0.045" bronze wound on steel bass string used on the low E on a Western Acoustic guitar is so stiff and loud. A Spanish guitar string
might be no thinner, but it's made with a core of nylon so it is lighter and hence will tune to the same note with less tension. This same Spanish
Guitar string can be used on the (shorter scale) oud and tuned to low C, and the tension will be even less.
Once you have a good idea of what is what you can experiment (if you want) with strings originally intended for lutes or guitars. You have to find
what you like that will not exceed the oud's capability. Matthias sells a wide range of strings in different materials.
Bill Ostrie (http://www.ostriemusicsupplies.com/marioud-ar.htm) sells (excellent) Daniel Mari sets and will add a 0.020" course (calls it a "mumtaz" course) to
either the Arabic or Turkish set for $0.75, for a grand total under $10 including shipping. The bass strings sound very good, the trebles are pretty
normal nylons, I think nylons all sound rather similar. I have measured the two sets and they seem to be very close to being identical, one course was
0.001" different, I forget which.
If you have a long scale oud, make sure you ask for the long bass string, I found the old 36" string too short for a proper loop.
They last a long time, the silverplating starts to show a little wear after a few months, but they still sound fine. I usually wipe strings with a
piece of chamois wet with FingerEase.
enough info?
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alloushé
Oud Junkie
Posts: 100
Registered: 4-28-2010
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Thank you very much for taking the time to answer me in such a pedagogical way, i
start to see, i will let you know about my eventual questions.
Thanks again
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