Famous Oud Players

Like other ancient musical instruments, Oud has its own fan followers and admires who have helped this amazing musical instrument to keep alive its legacy even in modern time. But had it not been for some great musical maestros, the legacy of oud would have probably lost into oblivion.

As Oud is a versatile musical instrument of Ancient Arab world, it is no wonder that this musical instrument is practiced by a number of great musical players even today. However, there are some great Oud players who have helped this musical instrument to attain a certain level of popularity by perfecting some of its aspects meticulously.
They have mastered the art playing Oud with painstaking effort and have enriched this musical genre by adding a new dimension without snapping its intimate connection with rich musical heritage of Arab. Therefore, every aspiring Oud player should read the biographies of some of the leading oud players because it will help him garner more information about Oud.

Here in this section we have listed the names of some the famous Oud players, who have enriched this musical genre immensely and immeasurably.

As Oud is vibrant musical instrument, its popularity has swept the Arab world. Over the years, Oud has managed to win the hearts and the minds of western audiences as well by delivering something really different. But the credit also goes to these abovementioned oud players who have superbly and succinctly presented darbuka music to the audience by incorporating their individual inputs and by presenting it in a pleasant way.

As Oud is a fret-less musical instrument, its sound and musical notes are closely dependent on the dexterity of the Oud player. A slight deviation can cause devastation or can disrupt the flow of the spontaneous musical notes of oud. But if this musical instrument can be played naturally and without any effort, it can mesmerize the audience.

These famous Oud players have proved this fact precisely. Just flip through their biographies to have a clear understanding of the legend of this great musical instrument.

• Farid al-Atrash - فريد الأطرش

  Farid al Atrash was born 1915 in Syria to a druze family of princes which moved to Egypt in the 1920's. Farid's Mother was playing the oud and was a singer as well and his sister asmahan was a popular singer as well. Farid studied in a music school under the hands of the legendary Riyad al sunbati. Read more..

• Mohamed el-Qasabgi - محمد القصبجي

  Mohamed al Qasabgi (محمد القصبجي ) was born at 1892 was an Egyptian Oud musician and composer, and is regarded as one of the five leading composers of Egypt in the 20th century. al Qasabji's father was an oud teacher and composed several songs at his time. Mohammad loved the oud since his early years. He Combined Islam and music studies at the same time. Later he dedicated most of his time to music. Read more..

• Riyad al-Sunbati - رياض السنباطيي

  Riyad al-Sunbati (1906-1981). Riyad was first born son after 8 girls of a family of the city of farskor, Domyat, Egypt. later they moved to a different city called mansoura. His father muhammed was a famous oud player and a singer. The story tell that When he was in a tour he was taking riyad with him to various concerts, so he can teach him to sing. In order to teach riyad the art of oud playing, he also sent him to a very good instructor, named Mouhamad Shaaban. Read more..

• Munir Bashir - منير بشير

  Munir Bashir was considered as one of the Greates musicians of the Middle East in the 20th century . Bashir is well known for his cultural contribution and specialty at the Arabic maqam system and was among the first Arabic instrumentalists famous in Europe and America. Bashir’s music is distinguished by his unique style which include improvisation that inspired by his knowledge and experience at the fields of Indian and European music and tonal art. Read more..

• Naseer Shamma - نصير شمه

  Naseer Shamma is an Iraqi oud player and composer, one of the famous in the new generation of oud virtuosos. Shama was born in 1963 in village near the Tigris River. Naseer shama started his musical education at the age of 12 in baghdad, Iraq and at the age of 22 he already was playing his compositions at a concert in front of many iraqi renowed musicians. Read more..