How to restring an oud
An oud has no ball ends, no tuning machines and no frets: each string is tied at a bridge glued to a very thin soundboard and wound on a wooden friction peg in a pegbox bent sharply back from the neck. That makes restringing slower than on a guitar, but the job is the same every time once you know where each string goes.
Arabic oud tuning, course by course
Single bass first, then the five unison pairs, at A 440 Hz.
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | C2 | 65.41 |
| 5 | F2 | 87.31 |
| 4 | A2 | 110.00 |
| 3 | D3 | 146.83 |
| 2 | G3 | 196.00 |
| 1 | C4 | 261.63 |
How to use it
- Read the steps once before you loosen anything, then tick each box as you finish it.
- When every box is ticked, the page scrolls to the oud tuner. Allow the microphone and pluck one course at a time.
- Tune both strings of a pair to the same note: when they agree, the beating you hear between them stops. Start over clears the checklist for next time.
Help and explanations
The guide below is written for the common Arabic setup described by Maqam World: five pairs tuned in unison plus a single bass, 11 strings in all, tuned C2 F2 A2 D3 G3 C4 (65.41 Hz up to 261.63 Hz at A 440). Tick the steps as you go; your progress stays on this device, and the tuner at the end checks each course.
Which string goes where
Counting from the treble side, courses 1 to 5 are pairs (C4, G3, D3, A2, F2) and course 6 is the single bass C2. Modern oud strings are nylon on the trebles and metal wound over a nylon core on the basses, so the wound strings start around course 3 on most sets. Both strings of a pair are normally the same gauge, because they are tuned to the same note.
Turkish players usually tune higher, with D4 on the top course instead of C4, and Turkish ouds tend to be shorter: builders on Mike's Oud Forums quote about 585 mm for a Turkish oud and around 615 mm for an Arabic one (an estimate from players, not a maker's spec). Buy strings for the tuning you use; a Turkish set tuned down to Arabic pitch will feel slack.
Friction pegs that slip or stick
An oud peg holds only by its taper. Turn it while pressing it gently into the pegbox, the way a violinist does; if you just turn it, it will unwind as soon as you let go. A peg that keeps slipping needs a little peg compound or chalk; one that creaks and jumps needs peg compound or a touch of dry soap. Never force a stuck peg with pliers: the cheek of the pegbox can crack.
Tips
- Take a photo of the pegbox before you start: it is the quickest way to see which peg feeds which course.
- Nylon stretches for days. Expect to retune every time you pick the oud up during the first week.
- Changing gauges? See what a different set does to the feel in the string tension calculator, and fine-tune the pairs with the strobe tuner.
Frequently asked questions
How many strings does an oud have?
Most Arabic ouds have 11: five pairs in unison and a single bass. Some have an extra course, for 12 or 13 strings.
What are the notes of the oud strings?
In the common Arabic tuning, from the lowest course to the highest: C2 65.41 Hz, F2 87.31 Hz, A2 110 Hz, D3 146.83 Hz, G3 196 Hz and C4 261.63 Hz, at A 440 Hz.
How do I tie oud strings to the bridge?
Pass the string through the bridge hole leaving 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm), bring the end back and tuck it under the string, then wrap it 2 or 3 times around itself so the last wrap is trapped against the back edge of the bridge.
Should I change all the oud strings at once?
Change one course at a time. The bridge is only glued to a very thin top, and keeping most of the load on it while you work keeps the bridge, nut slots and neck where they were.
How often should I change oud strings?
As a general rule, every few months if you play daily, or sooner when the wound basses sound dull or a pair no longer tunes cleanly to the same note.