Oud vs Lute: Battle of the Mysterious Instruments

The oud and the lute are stringed instruments with pear-shaped bodies that look similar at first glance. Both hold an important place in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music traditions. However, there are also some important differences between these two instruments:

Structural Differences:

• Neck: The oud’s neck is thinner than the lute’s and has no frets. The lute has frets along the fingerboard.

• Fingerboard: The oud’s fingerboard is flat, while the lute’s fingerboard is slightly curved.

• Body: The oud’s body is more pear-shaped than the lute’s, and the bottom part is more rounded.

• Strings: The oud usually has 5 or 6 strings, while the lute has 6 to 14 strings.

Playing Technique:

• Plectrum: The oud is traditionally played with a plectrum, while the lute can be played with fingers or a plectrum.

• Fretting: Since the oud has no frets, the notes are obtained by precisely placing the fingers on the fingerboard. On the lute, the frets make it easier and clearer to play the notes.

Sound:

• Oud: The sound of the oud is described as softer, more melancholic and warmer than the lute.

• Lute: The sound of the lute is brighter, higher and more metallic than the oud.

Areas of Use:

• Oud: The oud is widely used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean classical music traditions. It is also used in various genres such as folk music, jazz and fusion music.

• Lute: The lute holds an important place in European Renaissance and Baroque music traditions. It is also used in various genres such as classical music, folk music, rock and jazz.

Most Important Artists:

Oud:

• Naci Töre (Turkey)
• Munir Bashir (Iraq)
• Marcel Khalife (Lebanon)
• Farid al-Atrash (Egypt)
• Sabri Tuğ (Turkey)
• Anouar Brahem (Tunisia)
• Ghassan El Khoury (Lebanon)
• Yurdal Tokcan (Turkey)
• Ali Ekber Çiçek (Turkey)
• Hasan Ferit Alnar (Turkey)

Lute:

• John Dowland (England)
• Francesco da Milano (Italy)
• Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany)
• Antonio Vivaldi (Italy)
• Robert de Visée (France)
• Silvius Leopold Weiss (Austria)
• Jacob Laurette (France)
• Dowland Jones (England)
• Edward Gauler (Germany)
• John Blakemore (England)

The names on this list are just a few of the most important representatives of the oud and lute traditions. The unique musical styles and virtuosos of each region contribute to the rich and diverse musical heritage of these instruments.