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Oud Foundation Program

A proven step-by-step online program for beginner Oudists who want to master authentic Oud techniques and Middle Eastern musicality

23 years ago I fell in love with the sound of the Oud... I thought it would be easy to get into...

As it turned out, the Oud was the MOST CHALLENGING instrument I've ever learned to play...

You wouldn't think so at first... right? 

It's small... 

It has a short neck...

It's got soft nylon strings... 


What could go wrong...? 

But quickly I realized, I just couldn't get my left hand to look the way my teacher's hand appeared!!!

It was so frustrating...

Then my right forearm would dig into the edge of the Oud causing a lot of pain...

When I tried to adjust to get more comfortable, the Oud would keep slipping off my leg. 

Are you experiencing the same thing I did??? 

Now let me share with you another problem I had along the way...

What about tuning.......?

Tuning the Oud can be a nightmare...

Whether it's bad tuning pegs... 

...or your first time using wooden friction pegs...

...or figuring out which peg goes with each string... 

...or figuring out which Oud tuning to use... 

...stuck pegs...

...loose pegs...

This is probably the biggest hurdle that prevents Oud learners from enjoying their practice and taking the Oud out to play... 

You sometimes spend most of your practicing time tuning the damn thing...

Who wants that!?!?!?


I understand... I get it...

I remember the first time I tried tuning my G bass string to F... I thought it sounded horrible...

I couldn't get the F to sound good with the other strings... Tuning it to G was so much easier. 

Then I remember my issue with risha... I was holding the risha with the end sticking out from in between my 3rd and 4th fingers. But then I noticed that some players don't do this. So I started to experiment.

I was confused for a long time.

Which way should I continue holding the risha...? I wondered...

What risha should I use? 

What are some good left hand, right hand exercises? 

How do I find the microtones?

What? Turkish and Arabic microtone intonation is slightly different?!? 

How can I play faster? 

How can I make the notes sound good up high on the neck...?

What songs and tunes should I learn?

Yildirim Palabiyik

These are all the questions I had and you may be asking yourself the same things...

Now here are things I tried (and I see many people try) and didn’t work.

3 Things I Tried and Didn’t Work

#1. Trying to do it all by myself

When I got my first Oud, I didn’t jump into Oud lessons right away. I tried to do it all by myself. I had experience playing guitar, so I thought I could do it with my own ideas.

This lost me 3 years of precious time with the Oud. I could have been honing my skills while being guided by a teacher. Instead, I didn’t get anywhere.

ear training

#2. Learning from different “teachers”

Learning from random tutorials on YouTube can be very frustrating for beginners. 

Since this ancient instrument has been played in different cultures and largely taught one-on-one, many things are not standardized. 

So as a beginner watching different players, you’ll see different ways of holding the Oud and risha, different intonations, different styles, and different tunings. You’ll be guessing too much. It’s simply confusing and overwhelming.

#3. Approaching the Oud like the guitar

They say the Oud is the ancestor of today’s guitar. That may be true, but the way you play the Oud is very different.

For example, 

  • Holding a large bowl vs the flat back is totally awkward. 
  • Then, having to get used to the long risha vs the small pick. 
  • Not to mention, trying to find notes on the fretless fingerboard. 
  • On the Oud, we don’t pluck the strings. We “hit” the strings, like a percussive instrument.
  • On the Oud, we play melody more like a violin, not chords like a guitar.

After making all these mistakes myself, I realized this:

I realized the BIGGEST problem is, that information about the Oud is so scattered, in different languages, and there are so many different approaches.

What I needed was everything in ONE place...

 

So I could choose what works for me.

And most importantly, I could start playing the Oud!

Once I realized that, and found teachers that walked me through the process, Oud playing became really exciting for me.

I could feel my progress and play those beautiful songs that got me into the Oud in the first place. 

My family would make me play the Oud at family gatherings, and it’s great to see them dance to my playing. 

Now that you’ve invested in your Oud, I want to help you experience this.

Introducing

the Oud Foundation Program

buy oud instrument

After painstakingly teaching myself and others for a while, I was frustrated by the lack of resources available to Oud players on the internet. 

Everyone seemed to be trying to figure out how to play this ancient, foreign instrument on their own, just relying on what they hear in recordings and guessing from instructional booklets or random YouTube videos! 

So what did I do? I’ve compiled all the crucial elements of playing the Oud in one ultimate crash course, so YOU don't have to waste time.

It’s called the Oud Foundation Program.

Your ONE-STOP online Oud class to get you from ZERO to HERO!

The Oud Foundation Program is an online based, step-by-step instructional program series where you can learn to play tunes on your Oud while honing your left hand and right hand skills, master playing microtones, and learning oriental style ornamentation and Oud techniques.

Get excited to get your hands on:

  • Step-by-step video instructions on how to hold the Oud (so it doesn’t keep slipping) and the risha to give you a strong start
  • Effective exercises that ramp-up finger dexterity in your right and left hands (and gave me my first real “aha!” moment with the Oud)
  • Super easy shortcuts to find microtones, and dominate tremolo (even if you’re a complete beginner and new to microtones and maqams) 
  • Advanced fingering techniques that will allow you to play all the way up and down the fretless fingerboard gracefully, with precision and good intonation. 
  • Many famous classic songs like Lamma Bada Yatathanna, Zorouni (by Fairuz), Bint El Shalabiya and more. Get ready to jam with other musicians!
  • Get exposed to basic maqams (scales) and taqsim (improvisation) which transform you into an intermediate level Oudist.
  • Unlimited email support whenever you need it.

No more guesswork, no more doubt, no more fumbling around the internet looking for clues.

No previous music experience needed. You'll learn the basics of note reading for the Oud, holding, and tuning the Oud. 


By the end of the program, you’ll dispel the mystery of the Oud so you can get started quickly and confidently, without making the same time-stealing mistakes I did. 

Imagine...

This weekend you'll finally learn to hold the Oud and Risha properly and...

By next month, you'll be playing a tune or two, and feeling so good with the warm, beautiful sound of the Oud at your fingertips.

FIRST 10 ENROLLEES GET 5 VIDEO EXCHANGES WITH NAVID

Be one of the first 10 enrollees during this special enrollment and get:

5 VIDEO EXCHANCES

Send me a up to 5 videos and get a video back from me giving you customized and specific tips or exercises to break bad habits and learn faster.

Special enrollment ends in...

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PICK A LEVEL OR BUNDLE & JOIN NOW

Oud Foundation I

Oud Foundation Program I

Completely new to music and the Oud? Start here.

With Oud Foundation Level 1, you will be able to...

  • Learn all the basics of the Oud - properly hold the Oud and risha, tune your Oud, find notes on the fingerboard
  • Play Western music on the Oud
  • Learn how to read music notation and how to use a metronome in your practice
  • Learn the tremolo technique and develop a strong strumming hand

Oud Foundation II

Oud Foundation Program II

Ready to experience Middle Eastern music?

With Oud Foundation Level 2, you will be able to...

  • Play Arabic music on the Oud - get exposed to 8 basic maqams and common rhythms
  • Play microtonal music on the Oud
  • Learn well-known tunes everybody knows like Salouny an-Nas (Fairuz), Dulab Rast, Bint al Shalibiya and more!

Oud Foundation III

Oud Foundation Program III

Let's get technical and precise! Learn authentic middle eastern tunes with ornaments and embellishments.

With Oud Foundation Level 3, you will be able to...

  • Play more famous songs from different Oud cultures like Lamma Badda, Zorouni (Fairuz), Sirto Nakriz, Aziz Joon and more!
  • Play ornaments and embellishments that makes you sound like a professional
  • Play cool middle eastern rhythms like 7/8’s and 10/8’s

Oud Foundation IV

Oud Foundation Program IV

Get ready to move onto the next stage. Enter the world of maqams and modulation while developing your technical skills.

With Oud Foundation Level 4, you will be able to...

  • Play at an intermediate level
  • Start playing your first improvised Oud solo (taqsim)
  • Learn modulations between different maqams
  • Play the most fun instrumental music in Arabic and Turkish repertoire like Samai Bayati Al Aryan, Samai Hijaz by Mohammed Abdo, and Samai Nahawand by Mesut Cemil Bay

BUNDLE & SAVE

Ready to dive into the world of Oud? Choose a bundle package that suits your desire.

Oud Foundation Program I-IV

Oud Foundation I - IV

Want to fast track your Oud progress and start playing tunes?

Join the entire series now, save money, and simply focus on learning! Start as a bare beginner and complete the program as an intermediate level, well-rounded Oudist.

Regular: $276 → Special: $239 (Save $37!)


Oud Foundation I & II

Oud Foundation I & II

Are you a bare beginner who's ready to dive in?

This is a great package for you to build a solid foundation to becoming a well-rounded Oud player!

Regular: $138 → Special: $129


Oud Foundation III & IV

Are you ready to get beyond the beginner phrase?

This is a great package for you to develop more advanced ornamentation techniques like trills and muting that make your playing sound robust, master more maqams and complicated rhythms such as 7/8, and 10/8, and build confidence to play more famous tunes!

Regular: $138 → Special: $129

What People Are Saying

"TO TAKE THE OUD WHERE NO OUD HAS GONE BEFORE…As a musician, performer, and recording artist for the last 20 years, Navid Goldrick knows exactly what you’re up against as it relates to learning to play and enjoy the oud. Visit oudforguitarists.com and begin learning. For anyone wanting to explore this instrument, Navid is an exceptional player and professional guide with first-rate material and communication."

- Rik Jonna

"The Oud For Guitarists program is amazing. If you are a beginner or struggling in learning oud it is a must. I purchased (yes purchased, this is not a paid endorsement) OFG a few weeks ago and the concepts are finally making sense. I was taught Western music all my life so this program was greatly needed, especially since there are no teachers near me. When I am more comfortable in my playing I will purchase the Step-by-Step Taqasim. Thank you Navid for this great teaching aid!"

-Roni Zulu, www.ronizulu.com

"As a guitar player looking to learn the oud, these lessons are a great help! Patient and thorough, Navid offers insights into every aspect of oud playing. From the anatomy of the instrument to the complexities and nuances of middle-eastern music, Navid opens the doors for us and guides us knowingly through to the realm of understanding. "

 - André Hopfner

Is Oud Foundation Program for me?

"I don't play Guitar, can I still use your program?"

The Oud Foundation Program is for everyone. The Oud Foundation Program helps you learn Oud from the ground... up!

"I'm an advanced Guitar player, and have been playing stringed instruments for ages… is the Foundation Program really right for me?” 

The Foundation Program was made just for you. Instead of aimlessly guessing how to play, you’ll have the basics so you can skip the mystery and get to the fun stuff.

"How long does it take to see results?"

Everybody is different, so everyone learns at a different pace. You should be able to progress through 1 module every 2 weeks if you practice at least 30 mins per day. It may take longer if you don't have that much time to practice.

“I’ve never played an instrument before, and I don’t know how to read music.” 

The Foundation Program includes some basic instruction on music notation, and teaches you as though you’ve never held an Oud before. It starts easy and gets progressively more challenging so you can work at your own pace. 

 

“I don’t have the time right now.” 

Once you join, the Foundation Program is yours for life. You can access these lessons and download them anytime. If you're busy right now, start slowly or come back to the course when you are ready.

The whole point of the Foundation Program is to save you time in the future. You’ve got the whole basis for Oud playing in one place. 


“Couldn’t I find this for free on YouTube?” 

You might be able to find comparable free material elsewhere, but it’s going to be difficult to find all in one go. That’s why we’ve packaged everything you need in one place, so you can get started right away. 

"What if it doesn’t work for me?"

We always offer a 60 day money-back guarantee in case you are not happy with the course contents.

"Seems too expensive...."

Okay, let's have a look at what you'll gain from this program:

  • Learning materials that are worth about 12 months of private one-on-one lessons.
  • Step-by-step, systematic instructions to help you start playing the Oud authentically.
  • Lifetime access to the entire program (and any future updates to the program).

...and more!

12 months of private lessons alone will cost you anywhere from $1500 and up in today's market. You save over $1300 with this bundle.

Got any other questions? Not sure which level to start at?

Feel free to email me at support@oudforguitarists.com.

60-day money back guarantee! 

Let us take the risk off your shoulders. I'm confident that you will have a much deeper understanding of this instrument and develop your techniques faster with the effective exercises and the clear instructions. 

But if you feel you didn't learn anything from the Oud for Guitarists Foundation Program, email us within 60 days of your purchase, and we will refund every penny immediately.  

Imagine getting a satisfying practice and seeing improvements in your fingering and tremolo. 

For the price of 3 or less private lessons, it'll be yours. 

"Oud for Guitarists has one of the best ways of teaching I have come across; the multiple views of the fretboard really helped me out. I had searched the internet all over and found many so called lessons, but none like these. Not only do they put the oud in a simpler format, but they also don't just say hey I'm good watch what I do."

- Zachariah Luhman

"Well filmed, clear and excellent start to learn for sure. Good explanation of those infamous quartertones. Lots of good advice."

- Andre Thibault

FIRST 10 ENROLLEES GET 5 VIDEO EXCHANGES WITH NAVID

Be one of the first 10 enrollees during this special enrollment and get:

5 VIDEO EXCHANCES

Send me a up to 5 videos and get a video back from me giving you customized and specific tips or exercises to break bad habits and learn faster.

Special enrollment ends in...

-
Days
-
Hours
-
Minutes
-
Seconds

BUNDLE & SAVE

PACKAGE DEALS

Foundation I & II

Oud Foundation I & II

Get everything included in Foundation I and II.

A perfect way to start your Oud training with a solid foundation.

Foundation III & IV

Get everything included in Foundation III and IV.

A perfect way to develop more advanced ornamentation techniques, master more maqams and complicated rhythms such as 7/8, and 10/8, and build confidence to play more famous tunes!

Foundation I-IV

Get everything the Oud Foundation Program has to offer!

Join the entire program series now, save money, and simply focus on learning and progressing! Start as a bare beginner and complete the program as an intermediate level, well-rounded Oudist.