The ud is a stringed instrument that is widely used in the music of the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. It has a pear-shaped body, a short neck, and usually 11 or 13 strings. The ud is considered to be the ancestor of the European lute and guitar, and it has a rich and diverse repertoire in various musical traditions.
One of the prominent ud players and teachers in Turkey is Mutlu Torun, who is also a professor of musicology at Ankara University. He has written several books and articles on Turkish music, as well as a comprehensive method for learning the ud. His book, "Ud Metodu: Gelenekle Geleceğe" (Ud Method: From Tradition to Future), is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to master the ud and explore its musical possibilities.
The book consists of two volumes, each with 16 chapters. The first volume covers the basic techniques, exercises, scales, modes, rhythms, and ornaments of the ud. It also introduces some of the most famous ud composers and their works, such as Tanburi Cemil Bey, Mesut Cemil, Yorgo Bacanos, Cinuçen Tanrıkorur, and Necdet Yaşar. The second volume focuses on more advanced topics, such as modal analysis, improvisation, composition, notation, and performance practice. It also provides examples of different styles and genres of ud music, such as classical, folk, contemporary, fusion, and world music.
The book is accompanied by a CD that contains audio recordings of all the exercises and pieces in the book. The book also has a website that offers additional materials, such as videos, scores, articles, and links. The book is written in Turkish, but it has an English summary at the end of each chapter. The book is available in PDF format online for free download from [this link].
If you are interested in learning the ud or improving your skills, you should definitely check out this book by Mutlu Torun. It is a comprehensive and practical guide that will help you discover the beauty and diversity of the ud and its music.