The Arabic oud is the larger, deeper-voiced branch of the oud family — the lead instrument of the Arabic takht ensemble and the sound most listeners picture when they imagine maqam music. Built with a generous bowl and tuned low, it gives a full, resonant bass that carries taksim improvisation and classical repertoire from Cairo to Baghdad. At Sala Muzik we set up and inspect a full range of Arabic ouds, from forgiving beginner instruments to master-built ouds by named luthiers, every one checked and tuned before it ships.
Quick Recommendation — Beginners: the Arabic Handmade Walnut Oud AAO-108 ($399) — walnut bowl, spruce face, easy to fret. Stepping up: Professional Arabic Oud A5 ($599) for a fuller, more refined voice. Stage and amplified: Professional Arabic Electric Oud OUDE EA5 ($699). Professional, master-built: Special Arabic Oud UNQ-2A by Miras ($1,999).
Quick picks by player type
Best for stage and travel
Professional Arabic Electric Oud OUDE EA5$699 · Built-in pickup — amp-ready, quiet practice
The oud family — explore the other types
The Arabic oud is one branch of a wider family. If you are still deciding, compare it with the related traditions and shapes:
Turkish OudSmaller body · brighter, higher tuning Syrian OudArabic-style · rich tone, fine detailing Electric OudBuilt-in pickup · stage + silent practice All OudsThe complete oud collection Oud AccessoriesStrings, cases, risha picks, pickups
Arabic vs Turkish oud — which one to start with?
If you are choosing between the two main traditions, the difference is real and audible. The Arabic oud is larger and tuned lower for a deep, full voice; the Turkish oud is slightly smaller and tuned about a step higher for a brighter, more articulate tone. Pick the one that matches the music you want to play.
| Feature | Arabic Oud | Turkish Oud |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Larger bowl | Slightly smaller bowl |
| Tuning | Lower, deeper | About a step higher |
| Tone | Deep, full, bassy | Bright, focused, articulate |
| Scale length | Longer (~60-62 cm) | Shorter (~58-59 cm) |
| Best music | Arabic maqam, classical takht | Turkish classical and folk |
| Best for | Players of Arabic repertoire | Players of Turkish repertoire |
Full breakdown in our blog: Choosing the Right Oud — A Guide to Types, Styles and What to Look For.
What makes a quality Arabic oud
Four things separate a starter Arabic oud from a professional instrument: tonewoods, the bowl, the fretless neck, and setup.
- Tonewoods — a solid spruce face over a walnut or mahogany bowl ages and resonates far better than laminate. Tight, even grain matters more than a flawless look.
- The bowl — the large Arabic bowl is built from many thin ribs. Clean, gapless joinery gives the deep projection the Arabic oud is known for, and keeps the instrument stable for years.
- Fretless fingerboard — usually ebony, and it must be true and smooth. With no frets to correct an uneven neck, the fingerboard sets the intonation directly.
- Pegs and setup — well-fitted ebony pegs hold tune; accurate string action keeps the oud comfortable to play. Every Arabic oud we ship is set up and tuned first.
A short history
The word oud comes from the Arabic al-ud — "the wood." Its closest ancestor is the Persian barbat, and lute-type instruments appear in Mesopotamian and Egyptian art reaching back more than three thousand years. The medieval scholar and musician Al-Farabi is traditionally credited with refining the instrument's tuning and adding a fifth course. Over the centuries the Arabic oud became the lead voice of the takht ensemble across Egypt, Iraq, Syria and the Levant, and twentieth-century masters such as the Iraqi virtuoso Munir Bashir established it as a solo concert instrument. Today the Arabic oud is played, taught and recorded worldwide.
FAQ
Is the Arabic oud a good instrument for beginners?
Yes. Because the oud is fretless, beginners build ear and intonation naturally from the first lesson. A well-set-up beginner Arabic oud such as the AAO-108 is comfortable to fret and already sounds genuinely musical, so early practice is rewarding rather than frustrating.
What is the difference between an Arabic and a Turkish oud?
An Arabic oud is larger, with a longer scale and a lower tuning, giving a deep and full sound suited to Arabic maqam music. A Turkish oud is slightly smaller and tuned about a step higher, giving a brighter, more articulate tone suited to Turkish repertoire. Neither is harder to learn — the choice is musical.
How many strings does an Arabic oud have?
Most Arabic ouds have eleven strings arranged in six courses: five paired courses plus a single bass string. Some professional ouds add a twelfth or thirteenth string for extra low range. We carry string sets matched to Arabic tuning.
How is an Arabic oud tuned?
A common Arabic tuning, from the lowest course to the highest, is C-G-D-A-G-C. It sits lower than Turkish tuning, which is what gives the Arabic oud its deep, full maqam voice. We sell dedicated Arabic-tuning string sets so you can keep it set up correctly.
Will my Arabic oud arrive ready to play?
It is strung, set up and inspected by our specialists before dispatch and ships well protected, but it will almost certainly need re-tuning on arrival. An oud rarely holds its tuning through a long journey — string tension shifts in transit. That is completely normal, not a fault or shipping damage.
How much does a good Arabic oud cost?
A reliable, well-set-up beginner Arabic oud starts around $350-$450. A refined step-up instrument sits near $600, and professional, master-built ouds from named luthiers run from roughly $1,900 upward. Every tier at Sala Muzik is inspected and tuned before shipping.
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