Barbat or Oud; Persian Musical Instrument

The barbat or rud (oud in Arabic) belongs to the plectrum-sounding stringed instruments. This instrument, ancient of 5 thousand years, is widespread in the Middle East and with the Arabs of North Africa. Wood, gut or nylon and bone are used in its manufacture.

Its parts consist of the sound box, the table above it, the bridge and the simgir, the handle, the point, the pegs and the nut. The case of this instrument is very large and pear-shaped and its handle is very short, so that the largest section of the string length is found in the extension of the case.

The surface of the case is made of wood and reticulated openings have been created on it. The barbat has ten strings or 5 pairs of strings that are tuned together, each of them has a particular peg and on both sides of the peg box is the tip of the instrument.

It has a phonic extension of almost two octaves and has the deepest sound compared to the other Iranian chordophones. The barbat can cover both roles well, both as a solo instrument and as an orchestra.