Oud Facts: Shop for Instruments, Accessories, Gifts

Oud Facts

The oud dates back 3,000+ years, with roots in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia. It’s one of the oldest stringed instruments still in use, known for its distinctive pear-shaped body and short fretless neck. The bowl-shaped back is made from strips (ribs) of woods like rosewood, walnut, mahogany, or maple.

Often referred to as the “King of Instruments” in the Arabic world, the oud is a cornerstone of Middle Eastern and North African music. The lack of frets allows musicians to play microtones—notes between the standard Western scale—giving the oud its distinctive, expressive sound central to Arabic, Turkish, and Persian music.

Typically an oud has 11 or 13 strings (5 or 6 double courses plus a single low string). Oud tunings vary by region. 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. Beyond the Middle East, the oud has influenced music in Greece, Armenia, and Central Asia. More recently it has been adopted by Western musicians in jazz, world music, and fusion genres.

Young Man Playing Oud

More Oud Facts

A person who performs on this string instrument is called an oudist. Notable oudists include Tarek Abdallah, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Farid al-Atrash, Rahim Alhaj, Riad al-Sunbati, Ahmed Alshaiba, Amer Ammouri, Munir Bashir, Anouar Brahem, Hamza El Din, H. Aram Gulezyan, Aarif Jaman, Saad Mahmood Jawad, Marcel Khalife, Yuval Ron, Simon Shaheen, Naseer Shamma, Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian, Yurdal Tokcan, Cinuçen Tanrıkorur, Dhafer Youssef, and Scott Wilson.

Ancestor of the Guitar
Modern guitars evolved from the oud, which was brought to Europe during the Middle Ages by the Moors in Spain. The oud directly inspired the European lute, a plucked string instrument popular during the Renaissance. In 16th-century Spain, the lute evolved into early guitar-like instruments, including the vihuela and four-course guitar. These instruments gradually developed into the modern six-string guitar by the 19th century, with changes like a flatter body and standardized tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E).

Arabic Oud Middle Eastern Decor

Stretched Canvas Wall Art

Arabic Oud Wall Art Fairuz Inspired Print for Middle Eastern Home Decor Stretched Canvas is Created with the Highest Standards Using Quality Inks

Yemeni Music Master Ahmed Alshaiba

An instrumental interpretation of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” was arranged by Ahmed Alshaiba, a young musician from Yemen who taught himself to play the oud, and made a splash on social media with his cover versions of pop songs.

Best Gifts for Music Lovers

We’ve designed 2,000+ products for string instrument musicians and fans. Find a unique gift for your favorite oud player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music Oud collection.

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Turkish Quality String Instrument Oud

Product details:

Mahogany bowl, spruce face, ebony pegs
High quality, beautiful instrument
Great tone, deep resonation, easy to tune
Plectrum and extra set of strings
Soft case for storage and portability
Two-year warranty certificate

Turkish Quality String Instrument Oud Spruce Face and Mahogany Bowl

Ouds for Sale

Middle Eastern Marketplace (Souk)

Craftsmanship
The best ouds are handcrafted by skilled luthiers, who meticulously shape the body, neck, and soundboard. High-quality ouds are handcrafted from woods like rosewood, walnut, or spruce, with intricate inlays and designs. Master luthiers can take months to build a single instrument.

Best Oud Gifts Collection

Our Oud Gifts Collection features shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, chef aprons, buttons, magnets, and more.

Oud Shirts and Gifts Collection

Unique Oud Gift Ideas

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D’Addario Arabic Oud Strings EJ95A – Set of 11 – Silver-Plated Copper – Medium String Gauge Oud Abstract Design T-Shirt – Middle Eastern Music – Great Gift for Oud Teachers, Students, Players Zaza Percussion – Portable Aluminum Oud Stand – Foldable Design with Crab Body and Footrest Folkways Records – Music for the Classical Oud – Khamis El Fino – Oud Virtuoso – 1964 – Audio CD