Oud

The oud is a pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument in the lute family. It has a short neck and a large hollow body with a flat soundboard. Most modern ouds have 11 strings arranged in five courses (four double courses and a single bass course); strings are plucked with a plectrum. The neck sometimes carries tied frets, allowing microtonal intonation used in maqam-based music. The instrument is typically made of woods such as spruce for the soundboard and walnut, maple, or rosewood for back and sides; playing styles vary by region.

Origins trace to the early medieval Middle East and North Africa, with roots described in Arabic sources from the 9th century. It is considered a predecessor of the European lute and remained central in Arab, Turkish, and Persian classical musics as well as folk traditions in many countries. In Turkish music, the instrument is closely related to the ud; in the Arab world it is widely known as the oud.

Playing technique: The right hand uses a plectrum to strike the strings; the left hand fretting often employs tied frets to shape maqams, allowing precise microtones. The oud produces a warm, resonant tone with long sustain and is capable of melodic lines, chordal accompaniment, and microtonal inflection.

In performance contexts, the oud is central to Arabic classical ensembles, including takht, as well as Levantine and Egyptian repertoire; Turkish and Persian traditions also feature it. In modern fusion and world music, the oud appears in a wide range of styles.

Notable players include Naseer Shamma, Anouar Brahem, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and Farid el-Atrash.