Oud

A pear-shaped, stringed musical instrument commonly used in Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean music. Its name, from Arabic ‘ud (“wood”), refers to its aloe wood belly, in contrast to the skin bellies of earlier types. The oud is considered one of the oldest instruments in the world, with roots tracing back thousands of years. It produces a deep, resonant sound and many microtones that are present in traditional Middle Eastern music. This instrument typically has 11 or 13 strings. It is the parent of the European lute.