Turkish / Arabic Oud transpositions

Turkish notation to Arabic Most Turkish music is written in Bolahenk notation, which is a fourth higher than concert pitch. The starting note is usually Sol instead of Do, and written Sol sounds as Re. We consider three different Oud tunings: • Fa-Fa High Arabic (Fa – La – Re – Sol – Do – Fa) • Do-Do Standard Arabic (Do – Mi – La – Re – Sol – Do) • Re-Re Turkish (Re – Fa# – Si – Mi – La – Re)

Turkish repertoire Oud tuning

Original score (in Bolahenk)

Transposed (for Arabic players)

Turkish (Re-Re)

Think Do-Do

Transpose 5th down, Think Fa-Fa

High Arabic (Fa-Fa)

Ignore 5th and 6th string Tune 1st (Fa) down to Mi Think Re – Sol – Do – Fa

Transpose 2nd up, Think Fa-Fa Transpose 4th down, Think Do-Do

Standard Arabic Ignore 5th and 6th string (Do-Do) Tune 1st (Do) down to Si Think La – Re – Sol – Do

Transpose 2nd up, Think Do-Do Transpose 4th down, Think Fa-Fa

Arabic repertoire Oud tuning

Original score

Transposed (for Turkish players)

Turkish (Re-Re)

Think Fa-Fa

Transpose 4th down or 5th up

Think Do-Do

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High Arabic (Fa-Fa)

Think Fa-Fa

Transpose 2nd down

Think Do-Do

Transpose major 3rd up

Standard Arabic Think Fa-Fa (Do-Do) Think Do-Do

Transpose 4th up or 5th down Transpose 2nd down

Oud Technical exercises In this case fingering is more important than pitch. So for Oud exercise written in Turkish notation (for example, from Turkish Ud methods) • Transpose 2nd down, think Fa-Fa • Transpose 5th down, think Do-Do