May is Maqam Month – Learn 1 Maqam a day

daily maqam

May is Maqam Month. Let’s dedicate ourselves to learning maqams (maqamat). I’m posting a YouTube short everyday until the end of May to introduce a different maqam to you. I’ll also give an important nugget that will give you a new edge on each maqam. Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you get notified when a new video has been published. Check out the playlist below: Want…

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Maqam Jiharkah – Rare Intonation

maqam jiharkah

Maqam Jiharkah is a maqam that can sometimes be misunderstood. It’s not a common maqam, so it’s rare to hear. The Arabic style Oud players have a particular way of playing it. In the video below you will learn the notes, intonation, and renditions of Maqam Jiharkah. You will also hear a short taqasim of mine at the end of the video. In my course, “Easy Oud Songs”, you can…

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5 Egyptian Songs You Need to Play on Oud

Egyptian songs

A few weeks ago I shared some Egyptian songs, and we explored some of the “classic” composers and singers that are dear to Egyptians. We mentioned the likes of Umm Kulthum, Riad Al Sunbaty, and Mohamed Abdul Wahab, and Said Darwish. There was something missing from that post. Where was the Oud element to all that? How do you explore this music on Oud? The task is fairly difficult. For…

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Super Oud Tremolo Exercise

          Tremolo is one of the most challenging techniques for Oud learners, but it’s so essential to Oud playing. It takes time and discipline. In this video, you’ll learn an exercise that will help develop your Oud tremolo. Let me know what you think about this Oud lesson. Comment below or email me at support@oudforguitarists.com. Tomorrow, Oud for Guitarists is offering a limited time Premium Oud…

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Oud Practice

  I’m an introvert.   Playing the Oud allows me to enter my own world.   Even though I have a lot of performing experience, I think playing the Oud has always been a stress reliever, and I always get energized after I play the Oud.     How about you? Are you an introvert? Oud practice   I come to the Oud from Persian music. Persian music, at it’s core,…

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The Ultimate Guide to Persian Music

Persian Music is EASIER to Learn   Persian music is definitely not as popular among Western peoples as is Arabic and Turkish music. There could be many reasons for this, but I think the two biggest ones are: 1.) The political climate of the last 30 years has closed off Iran’s cultural heritage to the world to only a select few with the tenacity to pursue it. 2.) The music itself rather introspective,…

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Sawt Al-Khaleej

  Today you’re going to learn about a really important genre of Arabic music. This music is timeless and ancient. It is very different in tone and feeling than Arabic music in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt. You can call it Sawt Al-Khaleej, or Sawt for short. Sawt music is the Arabic music I find very intriguing. The rhythms are very unique, and the Oud playing is absolutely furious.…

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