Ud
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The 'Ud is the most instrument in the Arab world and is used to play Middle Eastern music. It is a plucked lute with a deep body and is the ancestor of the European lute. Over the centuries, various tunings and stringings have been used. The five pairs of strings you can see in this Moroccan example are now standard.
| Family |
| Strings |
| Pitch range |
| Two-and-a-half octaves. |
| Material |
| Wood, with gut strings. |
| Size |
| About 28 in (71 cm). |
| Origins |
| The 'ud is a plucked lute from the Middle East and North Africa. It came into Europe through Spain in the 13th century and was the ancestor of the European lute. |
| Classification |
| Chordophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of strings. |
| And also... |
| The 'ud gained its name from the wooden plectrum that was used to pluck the strings. Later, an eagle's quill was employed. Up to the 19th century it was believed that the 'ud was the perfect instrument for curing illnesses. |
