Oud & Laouta

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The Oud has a large pear-shaped soundboard. The soundboard has three ornately carved rosettes that function as sound-holes. The larger rosette is under the strings, while two smaller rosettes are above and below the strings. There are six courses of strings, with two strings per course. Traditionally the strings were plucked with a plectrum made of an eagle feather or of water buffalo horn.

The Strings are attached on the face of the soundboard and run over a fret-less neck. Traditionally Oud strings ran in four courses of two each. Latter a fifth course was added. Today it is common to see five courses of two stings and an additional single string. Tin order to more evenly distribute the stress of the strings they attach to tuning pegs from alternate sides of the peg-box. The peg box is attached to the neck at an acute angle and is almost the same length as the neck The neck is relatively short, less that half as long as the length of the soundboard.

Curving deeply behind the soundboard is the body of the Oud. The Body is constructed of interlocking bent boards. This style of construction is called stave construction. Often the staves are of alternating dark and light colored woods to add to the visual interest of the body.

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