pear-shaped stringed instrument
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Oud type instrument iran 11th-12th centuries ad
The oud (/uːd/ OOD; Arabic: عُود, romanized: ʿūd, pronounced [ʕuːd]) is a Middle Eastern short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument (a chordophone in the Hornbostel–Sachs classification of instruments), usually with 11 strings … Wikipedia
Factsheet
String instrument
Hornbostel–Sachs classification 321.321-6
(Composite chordophone sounded with a plectrum)
String instrument
Hornbostel–Sachs classification 321.321-6
(Composite chordophone sounded with a plectrum)
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Oud
Oud - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - Similar instruments have been used in the Middle East, some predating Islam, such as the barbat from Persia. Different versions of the oud are used in Arabia, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern and Balkan regions. The oud, as a fundamental difference with the western lute, has no frets and a smaller neck. It is the direct successor of the Persian barbat lute. The oldest surviving oud is thought to be in Brussels, at the Museum of Musical ...
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Sala Muzik
salamuzik.com › collections › ouds
Oud for Sale — Handmade Arabic and Turkish Ouds | Sala Muzik
The oud is the fretless, short-necked lute at the heart of Arabic, Turkish, Persian and Greek music and the direct ancestor of the European lute. Its deep, resonant voice and smooth fretless fingerboard have carried more than a thousand years ...
Discussions

[question] why do guitars sound different to middle Eastern instruments like the 'oud'
There are a couple of major differences between guitars and ouds that make direct comparisons harder. First, the oud is strung in double courses, while (outside of 12's) guitars are usually single course. Second and much more importantly, the Oud is fretless and guitars, generally, are not. As I understand it, Arabic music sometimes divides an octave into twenty four sections rather than twelve. That, more than anything, will affect how its sound is perceived. It might be easier to directly compare to a fretless cittern (this would be unusual) - sometimes, accurately or not called an Irish Bouzouki - which often has a 'teardrop' shape and double courses. I would say that there would be strong tonal resemblances. A renaissance Lute without frets would also be a possible comparison, but the fingerboard of the Lute is much wider. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Guitar
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October 1, 2019
Regarding the word oud (music instrument)
If you were speaking Arabic, you'd say al oud. (Oud rhymes with food.) And if you were a crusader or maybe a more friendly visitor, you might construe that as 'a lood' or 'a lute' and bring one back to Europe with you. True story. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/grammar
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June 27, 2024
Guitar is banned in my country and I might only get one chance. What should I check before buying?
Do you live in hell? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Guitar
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969
April 9, 2026
My collection
Sorry for your loss. I hope you are keeping up. I like your collection. I have the same shell pink Cyclone. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/offset
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April 10, 2026
People also ask

Is the oud a good instrument for beginners?
Yes. Because the oud is fretless, beginners develop ear and intonation naturally from the first lesson. A well-set-up beginner oud such as the Arabic Handmade Walnut AAO-108 is comfortable to fret and already sounds genuinely musical, so early practice is rewarding rather than frustrating.
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salamuzik.com
salamuzik.com › collections › ouds
Oud for Sale — Handmade Arabic and Turkish Ouds | Sala Muzik
What is the difference between an oud and a lute?
They are close relatives. The European lute descends directly from the oud, carried into Spain during the medieval period. The main differences are that the oud is fretless while the lute has tied gut frets, and the oud is tuned and played for the maqam music of the Middle East rather than European repertoire.
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salamuzik.com
salamuzik.com › collections › ouds
Oud for Sale — Handmade Arabic and Turkish Ouds | Sala Muzik
What is a silent or electric oud for?
A silent or electric oud has a built-in pickup and a lightweight body, so you can plug into an amp or audio interface for stage and studio work, and practise quietly with headphones without disturbing anyone. It is a practical second oud for travelling and performing players.
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salamuzik.com
salamuzik.com › collections › ouds
Oud for Sale — Handmade Arabic and Turkish Ouds | Sala Muzik
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Arab Instruments
arabinstruments.com › home › the oud musical instrument
The Oud Musical Instrument
May 28, 2026 - The sound of the Oud vibrates within its hollow body. It is made of a rounded back, which is enclosed with a soundboard, a flat sheet of wood, whereas, the backside of it is made of 15-25 strips of wood. Usually, the open side of the back portion is known as the rosette. There are mainly 2 distinctive features of this musical instrument- one is its pear-shaped body and the second is its fretless neck.
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Sultan Instrument
sultaninstrument.com › blogs › oud-instrument-information › history-of-oud-instrument
History of Oud Instrument – Sultan Instrument
March 2, 2022 - He has often been called the "king ... Literally meaning ‘branch’ or ‘flexible rod,’ the oud is the main instrument of a piano-like composition....
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Oud for Guitarists
oudforguitarists.com › home › the oud musical instrument 101
The Oud Musical Instrument 101 - Oud for Guitarists
October 31, 2021 - At Oud for Guitarists, we are NOT talking about a type of wood or perfume made from it, but we are talking about Oud the musical instrument. It is an ancient musical instrument from the Middle East, which has been very popular in the area and ...
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UNESCO
ich.unesco.org › en › RL › crafting-and-playing-the-oud-01867
Crafting and playing the Oud - UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
The oud is a traditional, lute-type instrument played in Iran and Syria. The musician places the short-necked instrument on their leg, fretting with one hand and plucking the chords with the other.
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Sultan Instrument
sultaninstrument.com › collections › all-ouds
Buy Oud Instruments | Sultan Instruments
BL100 Maple/Mahogany Oud – Ideal ... Straight from the hands of Sultan... ... Oud is among the famous instruments in Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey , Armenia, and Greece....
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Britannica
britannica.com › entertainment & pop culture › musical instruments
Oud | Music & Instrument | Britannica
May 28, 2026 - Oud, stringed musical instrument prominent in medieval and modern Islamic music. It is the parent of the European lute. The oud has a deep pear-shaped body, a fretless fingerboard, and a relatively shorter neck and somewhat less acutely bent-back ...
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London Guitar Studio
londonguitarstudio.com › s › what-is-an-oud
What Is An Oud - London Guitar Studio
Its earliest form is thought only to have had 4 strings, and then over the course of its development, it became larger and more complex. But, in terms of the oud’s close relatives, musicologists have traced the lute family instruments all the way back to 3000BC.
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MDLBEAST
mdlbeast.com › xp feed › music industry › unraveling the history of oud: a journey through time and sound
History of Oud: Exploring a Timeless Sound | MDLBEAST
October 12, 2023 - This cross-pollination is evident in the "oud guitar," a fusion of the two instruments that marries the oud's distinctive resonance with the guitar's familiar frets. This innovative instrument aims to provide a compromise for musicians who are familiar with playing the guitar but are drawn to the oud's distinct timbre and melodic possibilities.
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Amazon
amazon.com › Premium-Arabic-Musical-Instrument-SALA-A6 › dp › B08VF34XDW
Amazon.com: Premium Arabic Oud String Musical Instrument Ud Aoud SALA-A6 : Musical Instruments
Buy Premium Arabic Oud String Musical Instrument Ud Aoud SALA-A6: Ouds - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
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Early Music Muse
earlymusicmuse.com › oud
The oud: a short guide to a long history – Early Music Muse
November 6, 2022 - The Cantigas, written c. 1257–1283, are richly illustrated with pictures of musicians, giving us much information about the instruments of the day. Though the oud is an eastern instrument, entering Europe in the 9th century via Moorish rule in Iberia, one striking feature of the depiction of the three ouds in the Cantigas is that they are all played by western Christian musicians.
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Vocal Media
vocal.media › beat › what-is-oud-instrument-how-to-play-oud
What Is Oud Instrument? How to Play Oud? | Beat
The oud, which is a fretless instrument, is included in the strings and plectrum categories. It is one of the most central instruments in Arabic music. Any of the ancient cultures that lived across the Mediterranean and the Middle East used ...
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Snapchat
snapchat.com › عبدالله الديلمي في صنعاء (@abdoozzoo) › spotlight
4 likes | Abdullah Al-Dilemi Performs Traditional Music on Oud in Sana'a | عبدالله الديلمي في صنعاء (@abdoozzoo) | Posted Apr 12, 2026 | Spotlight
A man, identified as Abdullah Al-Dilemi, sits cross-legged on a yellow sofa in a warmly lit room, playing a traditional Arabic oud. He is dressed in white attire and sings while skillfully plucking the strings of the instrument. The setting includes curtains and a small table with items like ...
Published   April 12, 2026
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Simplemusicdictionary
simplemusicdictionary.com › home › instruments › oud
Oud — Definition & Meaning | Simple Music Dictionary
A pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument considered the ancestor of the European lute, central to Arabic, Turkish, and Persian classical music traditions. ... The oud (from Arabic "al-ʿūd," meaning "the wood") is one of the oldest and most important instruments in Middle Eastern music.
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String Kings Music
stringkingsmusic.com › home › oud facts: shop for instruments, accessories, gifts
Oud Facts: Shop for Instruments, Accessories, Gifts
June 10, 2025 - Common Arabic tunings include C-F-A-D-G-C, while Turkish ouds often use D-E-A-B-E-A. This adaptability suits different musical traditions. The oud and early guitars share key traits: a wooden soundbox, a neck for fingering notes, and plucked strings. While the guitar has diverged significantly from the oud in design and sound, the oud’s role as a foundational instrument in this evolutionary chain is well-documented.
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Etsy
etsy.com › market › oud_instrument
Oud Instrument - Etsy
I have never played a string instrument before, but I am learning how to play an oud from YouTube videos. This small oud has only four strings, which is good for me since I am a beginner. The sound that resonates from the pear-shaped wooden case is very satisfying and almost mysterious. I am very pleased with my purchase, and I thank the seller for giving me this opportunity at a price that I could afford." Premium Quality Lute Oud Music Instrument With 5 Strings Melodies Plus Case, Handmade Arabic Lute, Handcrafted Oud For Beginners & Experts
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Sala Muzik
salamuzik.com › new › all about oud instrument
All About Oud Instrument – Sala Muzik
May 28, 2026 - Oud instrument (written as “ud” in Turkish) is the ancestor of the European lute, name of which derives from “al-ud”. It is not a native Turkish instrument but it has been played in Anatolia for at least five centuries.