I like how you use different tunings. Are you always using GDGD or its higher and lower variants like FCFC, EBEB? It would be great to get an overview of violin tunings for Arabic music. I’m used to ADAD and GDAD for Turkish music in addition to standard tuning.
Most Arab violinists use GDGD. In Egypt it is alsp common to tune down a step to FCFC. I started on GDGD then converted to GDGC around 2012, so everything I'm playing is a transposition of that. In this particular recording I'm tuned down a third to EBEA. In some others I'm at FCFBb. GDGC has historical precedent from some violinists including Sami al-Shawwa as well as the more recent Abdo Dagher (FCFBb). The convenience of this tuning is that it matches the top 3 strings of the oud (DGC), and specifically facilitates Bayati on C, which enables me to play more in Rast F as well... also making Sikah A 1/2 flat a little easier. Obviously I have a taste for open strings but other violinists take a different approach and perhaps accomplish more transpositions more fluidly, while sacrificing some of the yummy resonances I enjoy.
@@abushumays I didn't know about the GDGC family nor that Sami al-Shawwa used that. I've been trying to transcribe some of his recordings (Hijaz Solo and Saba Pesrev) in GDGD. Can't wait to give this tuning a try now. It's so hard to find information in English about tunings for this music let alone other aspects (your book is in the mail) I also like the open string approach because I have a fiddle music background but I've been trying to force myself to shift and use positions more the past few months, almost imagining the violin as a kemence and only the three bottom three strings. Thanks for the insights.
thanks for these videos :)
Thanks for watching!
Best👌👌
Very good!
Thank you sir
I like how you use different tunings. Are you always using GDGD or its higher and lower variants like FCFC, EBEB? It would be great to get an overview of violin tunings for Arabic music. I’m used to ADAD and GDAD for Turkish music in addition to standard tuning.
Most Arab violinists use GDGD. In Egypt it is alsp common to tune down a step to FCFC. I started on GDGD then converted to GDGC around 2012, so everything I'm playing is a transposition of that. In this particular recording I'm tuned down a third to EBEA. In some others I'm at FCFBb. GDGC has historical precedent from some violinists including Sami al-Shawwa as well as the more recent Abdo Dagher (FCFBb). The convenience of this tuning is that it matches the top 3 strings of the oud (DGC), and specifically facilitates Bayati on C, which enables me to play more in Rast F as well... also making Sikah A 1/2 flat a little easier. Obviously I have a taste for open strings but other violinists take a different approach and perhaps accomplish more transpositions more fluidly, while sacrificing some of the yummy resonances I enjoy.
@@abushumays I didn't know about the GDGC family nor that Sami al-Shawwa used that. I've been trying to transcribe some of his recordings (Hijaz Solo and Saba Pesrev) in GDGD. Can't wait to give this tuning a try now. It's so hard to find information in English about tunings for this music let alone other aspects (your book is in the mail) I also like the open string approach because I have a fiddle music background but I've been trying to force myself to shift and use positions more the past few months, almost imagining the violin as a kemence and only the three bottom three strings. Thanks for the insights.