Learning How to Make Oud

Hello,

“Oud” is a musical instrument traditionally performed and produced in many countries of the Middle East. Oud making is a very laborious process and requires many years of training and experience.

Oud making is a process that requires mastery, just like making traditional musical instruments. For oud making, the guidance and experience of an experienced craftsman is important.

The materials required for making the oud include elements such as wood, glue, wire and keyboard. The first step is the construction of the body of the lute. It is cut from blocks of wood and then properly shaped. Next, the front part of the oud is carved and the fingerboard is placed. Placing and adjusting the wires is also an important step.

During the oud making, the acoustics of the oud is also an important factor. The selection of wood blocks of suitable thickness determines the sound quality of the instrument. Therefore, every step taken must be done carefully.

Even if the oud making process is guided by an experienced master, it can take quite a long time and includes many stages. However, the resulting instrument is very valuable, especially as it is an important instrument for traditional Turkish music.

However, if you want to get a general idea about making Oud, you can follow the steps below:

Obtain the necessary materials: Among the materials required for making oud, there are some basic requirements such as wood, wire, grater, scraper, glue, polish. Wood selection is also very important and generally medium hard and hard woods should be preferred.
Cut the wooden planks: You will need to cut the wooden planks that will be used for the body of the lute. The thickness of the plates will have a significant effect on the sound of the Oud, so care must be taken in choosing the thickness.
Shape wood planks: You can use a chipper or sandpaper to shape cut wood planks. At this stage, the front and back surfaces of the oud are shaped and notched.
Assemble the pieces: In making the oud, wooden planks are joined using glue. Beams on the sides of the hull are also attached.
Attach the strings: The strings of the Oud are stretched over the body of the Oud. The strings, especially the first string, are thin and delicate and tightly stretched.
Painting and varnishing: Painting and varnishing the oud provides an aesthetic appearance and protection. Paint and varnish are applied in several layers.
The above steps reflect an overall Oud making process. However, Oud making is a very laborious process and each step must be carefully performed by a professional musical instrument maker.

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