Learn Oud 1 (No Prior Music Knowledge Required!)

Welcome to Learn Oud 1 for beginners ! before you begin , make sure you download the PDF document that will help you practice throughout the course.
In this lesson of Learn Oud 1 course for beginners , you will meet your instructor Tareq Al Jundi and you will learn

about the main instrument in Arabic Music , the different parts of the Oud (Tuning Pegs , Finger Board, Sound Box

, Oud strings names , Oud Pick or Risha ), how to hold the Oud , how to hold the Risha , how to pluck the Oud strings and the best position for the Risha, tuning the Oud strings , and a brief about the difference between Arabic

and Western Music : Quarter tones.

Lesson 2 of Learn Oud 1 course, explains Time Value in Music (semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver,

demisemiquaver, hemidemisemiquaver or whole note , half note , quarter note ..ect) , Music staff, Treble Clef, 4/4

Time Signature, Measures, Bar Line and other terminology that you will need in Learning the Oud throughout the

course.

In Lesson 3.1 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners Tareq Al Jundi demonstrates how to play the “G” and “A” strings on the

Oud and gives necessary exercises and advises using slow tempo (speed) in practicing

Exercises on playing the “D” string on Oud are given in lesson 3.2 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners, In a addition to a

review exercise of “G” ,”A” and “D” strings on 3/4 time signature. Homework is given

Tareq introduces the left hand for the first time in Learn Oud 1 for beginners. Advice on the position of the left

hand fingers on the Oud's finger board is given. Finger numbers (Thumb = 0 , Index = 1 ect ) , You will also learn

how to produce the “B” note by pressing on the “A” string of the Oud. Exercises on playing these two notes

are given with advice on the position of the finger on the figure board.

In lesson 4.2 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners we continue working with the left hand and learn how to produce the

“C” note on the “A” string of the Oud. Advice on how to play both “C” and “B” notes on the “A” string is given along

with slow tempo 2/4 time signature exercises.

Lesson 5 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners tells you how to play “E” note using finger number 2 or 2nd second finger

and “F” note using finger number 3 or 3rd finger on the Oud “D” String. Tareq gives a reading exercise along

necessary advice followed by general review of lessons 4 and 5.

Tareq Al Jundi starts Lesson 6.1 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners by explaining the Minim Symbol which is twice the

Crotchet in time. Exercises using only the right hand and exercises using both hands on the Oud u are given on

reading and playing the minim and the crotchet on open Oud strings.

General exercises on reading, using the left hand on the Oud are given. Advice on how to rotate the left hand wrist

on the Oud's ginger board is also given. Again emphasizing practice on slow tempo.

In Lesson 7 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners, Tareq gives two applications on thing learned up until this point of the

course: a traditional Iraq song by Nazem El-Ghazali – Tala Min Beit Abuha and the other song you will learn on

Oud is Old Macdonald Had a Farm

In this lesson of Learn Oud 1 for beginners you will be introduced to the high “G” or the 4thstring on Oud. Exercises

are given and explained

Different Applications are given in this lesson of Learn Oud 1: The song “Frere Jacques” and the song “Jingle Bells”

on Oud are both taught. The repeat last measure sign is also explained. Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.9 is

given as homework.

In Lesson 9 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners Tareq shows us how to play “A” note on G string and after reviewing

notes on “D” string and “G” string we apply what we learned by playing the song ” Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on

the Oud

After introducing the last string on Oud which is the Higher “C” you will now be able to play the Major Scale or

“Ajam” Maqam on the Oud . Tareq Al Jundi also introduces the “TA” and “TA-TI” as new terminology as well as the

Upper Pick (or Risha) move and exercises are given.

Lesson 10.2 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners gives exercises on “Ta” and “Ta-Ti” which are Down and Down-Up using

the Oud pick (or Risha). Exercises using these techniques are applied to the Major (or Ajam) Scale

In this lesson of Learn Oud 1 course you get to learn the Accidentals (Flat – Natural – Sharp) , the meaning and function of each accidental on the Oud notes is explained, the relationship between our fingers on the Oud figure board and these accidentals is shown as well as how to read them on the Music Staff.

Tareq explains a popular Arabic Scale “Kurd” or Maqam Kurd and how to play it from the “A” note. This is an

application of the accidentals. Practicing this Maqam is explained. Example Song: Tik Tik Tik Yam Slaiman by Fairuz

(Rahbani Brothers)

In this lesson you learn playing the “C” string of the Oud and other notes on it like “D” using 2nd finger and “E” using

4th finger. Exercises for Up-Down techniques, reading and counting the Oud notes are explained.

In this lesson Tareq gives an application on techniques learned in previous lessons of Learn Oud 1 for beginners

and that is the song “Happy Birthday To You”, also “Up Beat” is introduced.

Tareq starts this lesson of Learn Oud 1 by introducing the “1 beat rest”, its symbol and how to use it. In addition

Maqam “Nahawand” (The Minor Scale or Harmonic Minor Scale) is introduced, played from the “A” note on Oud

and Explained.

In Lesson 14.2 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners you will learn a popular Arabic song : Baadak Ala Bali by Fairuz as an

application on Maqam Nahawand or the minor scale. The “D.C al Fine” sign.

In this lesson you will be introduced to the Quarter tone or the “half flat” which is an important characteristic of

Arabic Music. You will also learn the Bayat Maqam and learn a traditional Jordanian song “Mely Alaya Mely” as an

application and an Egyptian song called “Balady ya Balady”

In Lesson 16 of Lear Oud 1 for beginner you will learn the song “Alyady” and “Wain A' Ramallah” which are a

Palestinian folk songs as an application on Bayat Maqam. In addition you will learn “Zayeno Al Marjai” -also on

Bayat- and it is a Syrian folk song.

Tareq starts the lesson by explaining “Doulab” and talks about the history of it. You will learn the Doulab from on

Maqam Bayat

In this lesson of Learn Oud 1 for beginners you will learn a Muwashah which is a classical Arabic singing form. The

Muwashah you will learn is a popular one called “Jadaka Al Gaith” on 3/4 time signature as an application of things

taught previously.

Tareq introduces Maqam Saba which is one of the main Maqams in Arabic music and it is a “Sad” Maqam. Maqam

Saba from “D” note on Oud is explained, and the quarter tone in Saba is shown. Practice moving and shifting is

emphasized. Ta-Fa-Ti-Fi is introduced leading to what we call “Tremolo” or “Rash” or “Firdash”

In this lesson clear instructions on how to play Tremolo or Rash on the Oud are given, with focus on increasing the

tempo slowly over time to reach higher tempo or speed. Application on Maqam Saba is given: a song from Syrian folklore called “Hizzy Hizzy Mahramtik”

Before he goes on explaining Maqam Al Hijaz which is another popular Maqam in Arabic music, Tareq explains the

dot sign and its function and gives necessary exercises.

Maqam Hijaz which is very popular even used in the call for prayers in the Islamic Religion is explained in class 20.2

from Learn Oud 1 for beginners, and possible problems that students might face are pointed out clearly. Example

song “Haly Haly Hal” is given as an application.

In this lesson of Learn Oud 1 for beginners you will learn two songs on Maqam Hijaz. In the first piece of Hijaz

Maqam you will apply the Tremolo or Rash that you have learned in previous lessons.

Lesson 21.1 is the second application on Maqam Hijaz which is a Palestinian folklore song called “Ah Ya Zein”.

Introducing the Pick-Up, adding Arabic flavor to your Oud playing

Before Tareq moves to another musical piece on Hijaz which is “Overture on Hijaz Maqam” as an application he

explains the “Tie” symbol, what it means and how to read it. Exercise is given.

In Lesson 22.1 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners you learn another application on the popular Arabic Maqam Hijaz. The

Piece is explained slowly for its importance. Tremolo, Rest and more of what had been already explained is applied.

In this lesson you will learn a song using the Kurd “A” Maqam and that is Nassam Alaina Alhawa by Fairuz.

The Scenio** or “S 1″ symbol is explained

Lesson 23.2 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners is a continuation of learning Nassam Alaina Alhawa by Fairuz. Tareq

gives clear advice on understanding the rhythm and preparation before playing the song.

In this lesson you learn a very important Maqam In Arabic Music. The main Maqam in Arabic Music: the Rast

Maqam. Qarter Tones in Maqam Rast are shown clearly and explained. Iraqi folk song “Hallela Hilwa” is given as an

application. Tie and other previously explained symbols are explained.

Before explaining “Sama'ie Darij” -which is a beat – as an application on Rast (The Main Arabic Maqam), Tareq

introduces a new beat and gives exercises necessary to be applied in “Sama'ie Darij” later.

There is no new information in lesson 25.2 of Learn Oud 1 for beginners; it is just an application on the most

important Maqam in Arabic Music: Rast using most of the techniques that you have learned throughout the course.