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Originally ouds were strung with gut strings but today 10 to 12 high quality nylon strings are used. Strings are fastened to a tension bridge on the instrument's sound board. The tuning pegs are set in the sides of the peg box. Strings are plucked with a plectrum.

Tunings vary from one region to another and from one style to another. Mainly the Arabic and Turkish tuning systems are the most common. However, variations on these tuning systems exist within the same region depending on genre and style. The intonation system used in almost all cases is the equal tempered system.

           _____________  Tuning _____________
Start at string number 1 or your highest pitch
Standard Egyptian/Arab: C G D A F C
Non-Standard Arab: C G D A E C, F C G D A F,  F C G D A F C
Non-Standard Iraqi/Arab: F C G D C F
Old Turkish Classical: G D A E D A
New Turkish Classical: G D A E B F#
Turkish/Armenian: D A E B A E
Turkish/Armenian Variant: D A E B F# C#  Standard

To purchase the best strings for ud contact Jameel Ibrahim at www.khalafoud.com

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