I mentioned in my "Postcard from Lemnos 2006" thread that one of the local musicians played an oud. This was the first time I've seen one played live. The lighting in the taverna was dim and I wasn't too close to the band but it looked to me as if he was strumming it with a plastic strap bound round his fingers. He played bouzouki with a plectrum in the normal way. Is this the usual way of playing the oud, obviously plastic isn't "traditional"?
I'm sure there are experts out there on the Mudcat who'll give me an answer (or possibly several conflicting ones!).

RtS