Ouds

The instrument the lute came from. The oud is the ancestor of the European lute, and the heart of music across the Arabic world, Turkey, Persia, and the eastern Mediterranean. Fretless, low-tuned, voiced for melodic ornament and microtonal subtlety.

Rosewood ribs, spruce soundboard. The standard Roosebeck oud is built with a rosewood ribbed back and a quartersawn spruce soundboard. The combination gives the instrument the warm, slightly nasal voice that defines the oud across the Arabic and Turkish traditions.

Eleven strings in five courses plus a single bass. The string layout follows standard Arabic oud configuration, set up to play the maqam-based repertoire without modification. Quality tuners hold the courses steady through humidity and temperature changes.

Walnut variants for a different voice. Walnut-bodied ouds offer a slightly warmer, drier tone than rosewood, and suit players drawn to the Turkish style or to particular regional traditions. Available periodically in our catalog.

The rosewood oud is the most popular build in this collection and the one most students learn on. The voice sits squarely in the Arabic tradition, and the instrument handles both classical maqam playing and contemporary repertoire.

Walnut-bodied ouds, when available, suit players drawn to the Turkish tradition or who want a slightly drier, less resonant voice. The choice between rosewood and walnut is a question of musical taste more than technical capability.

Oud is fretless, which means the left hand carries more responsibility than on a fretted instrument. Most players with prior fretted experience adapt within a few weeks, and the maqam
system rewards careful listening. A teacher or a structured tutorial helps significantly.

Every Roosebeck oud ships with a quality risha (plectrum), a padded gig bag, and an owner's guide.