• 🪕 Virtual Oud

    Pluck oud strings, explore Middle Eastern-inspired scales, experiment with microtones, and record your melodies online.

    1. Oud Sound Settings

    The tuning presets use six ascending string courses, from low to high. Real oud tunings vary by instrument, tradition, and performer.

    2. Interactive Fretless Oud

    Last Note Played — Pluck a string to begin

    Each horizontal row represents a string course. Tap a position to pluck a note. Positions are shown in semitone steps for easy navigation, but a real oud has no frets.

    Computer keyboard: A S D F G H J K L ; Q W E plays successive positions on the highest string course.

    3. Maqam-Inspired Scale Practice

    These are simplified maqam-inspired pitch collections. Traditional maqamat involve characteristic melodic movement, ornaments, and intonation that cannot be fully represented by a basic scale.

    4. Oud Melody Recorder

    No oud melody recorded yet.

    Record plucked notes, pitch slides, and their timing. Play them back or copy the sequence as text. Audio and MIDI export are not included.

  • A Virtual Oud lets musicians, singers, songwriters, producers, and beginners explore oud-inspired sounds directly in their browser without needing a physical instrument.

    Whether you're practicing melodies, exploring Middle Eastern musical scales, or experimenting with expressive plucked-string sounds, this free online oud provides an interactive way to create music.

    How to Use the Virtual Oud

    Click or tap the strings to play different notes, or use your computer keyboard for additional control.

    Choose between traditional-inspired, warm, bright, and deep oud sounds. Adjust the pluck strength, resonance, brightness, and vibrato to experiment with different tones.

    Learn About Oud Strings and Tuning

    The oud is a traditional fretless string instrument widely used in Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean music.

    It typically features five or six courses of strings, often arranged in pairs, and is played using a plectrum called a risha.

    Unlike fretted instruments, the oud allows performers to produce pitches between the notes of the Western chromatic scale.

    Practice Maqam-Inspired Scales

    Use the built-in scale player to explore pitch collections inspired by Rast, Bayati, Hijaz, Nahawand, and Kurd.

    The tool also includes approximate microtonal notes, allowing you to experiment with pitches between semitones.

    Traditional maqamat involve characteristic melodic phrases, ornaments, and expressive intonation beyond their basic note collections.

    Experiment With Pitch Slides and Vibrato

    The oud is known for its expressive melodic possibilities.

    Use the pitch-slide and vibrato controls to explore how subtle pitch movement can add emotion and character to a musical phrase.

    Virtual Oud for Singers and Songwriters

    Singers can use the virtual oud for pitch matching, interval practice, melodic ear training, and exploring unfamiliar tonal patterns.

    Songwriters and producers can experiment with oud-inspired melodies for traditional music, cinematic arrangements, jazz, pop, electronic music, hip-hop, and other genres.

    Record Your Oud Melodies

    The built-in recorder captures the notes you pluck and their timing so you can listen back to musical ideas.

    You can also copy a text-based note sequence for reference when practicing, composing, or arranging.

    Tip: Start with a slow Hijaz-inspired scale and practice singing each note after hearing it played. Then experiment with quarter-tone slides and different pluck strengths to explore more expressive melodic phrasing.

    Related Pages:

    What Instrument Should You Play? Several Choices That May Fit Your Style

    Instruments That Can Use The Vibrato Technique