Although the oud has 12 strings, the game only uses a simplified 4, one less than Guitar Hero offers. Similar to Guitar Hero or Rockband, players can play by hitting the notes and strumming the strings alongside the timing and flow on the screen. The oud, similar to the lute, boasts a unique sound and is a staple in traditional Arabic music. Now, they've adapted the Arabic and English title for iPad with a fresh look and a larger selection of classic favorites. Quirkat initially released Al-Moosiqar online in 2009, following it with a successful mobile release that won the Judge’s Choice Award for Nokia’s Calling All Innovators “Bil3arabi” contest.

More than just a copy, it's a genuinely local game that uses music from local artists (any interested artist can contact Quirkat to have their music published in the game). So you've gotten good at Guitar Hero? How would you fare on oud or tabla? For those who want to duke it out with friends over more classical fare, Quirkat has updated its Al-Moosiqar games with a new iPad version that lets users try their hand at playing traditional songs on the oud or tabla.

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