Oud

The oud is a fretless plucked string instrument that comes from Persia and is widespread in the music of the Middle East as well as in Greek traditional music. It is related to the lute. It is above all a solo instrument, ideal for taksim (improvisation) and for accompanying song. It has a large, pear-shaped body and a short, wide neck without frets. Its shape and size vary from place to place: in Egypt, Syria and other Arab countries the body is large, in Turkey a little smaller, and in Iraq the sound holes in the soundboard are left open, without rosettes. Tunings also differ from region to region.