KISSAR KISSAR is plucked string instrument. It is a type of lyre from ancient Nubia. The body of kissar is round, made of turtle shell or wood, finished with membrane made of sheepskin. Five strings are stretched between the two arms. The kissar is played with plectrum, by holding the frame like the guitar. Currently kissar can […]
BENDIR Bendir (arab. بندر) is type of a frame drum. It is used as a traditional instrument throughout North Africa. Bendir has a special hole in the frame for the thumb finger. Many of bendirs has a snare made of gut, stretched across its head. Bendir is used in the special ceremonies of the Sufi. […]
DARBUKA Darbuka or tablah (arab. دربوكة) is type of a single head membranophone, characteristic for goblet shaped body. It’s well known in belly dancing from drum solo music. Traditional darbuka has a ceramic body with a membrane made of fish or goatskin. Today we can also find instruments made of aluminum with plastic membranes. Here […]
ARGHUL ARGHUL or ARGUL, ARGHOUL (Arab. أرغول) is a traditional arabic instrument, known in ancient Egypt. Arghul can be divided into three types: small, medium and large. It has two pipes, one with holes (5 to 7) and the other pipe without them. Outside of Egypt you can hear arghul in Palestine and in Turkey, […]
MAZHAR Mazhar (arab. مظهر) is a type of large tambourine used in Arabic music. The frame of the mazhar is made of wood, it can be decorated and it usually is 30 cm wide. Mazhar has ten pairs of big cymbals (nine cm), mounted in five pairs of slits. We can hear mazhar in Egyptian, […]
KAWALA Kawala (arab. كاوالا) also called salamiya, is an end-blown flute made of cane. It comes from Egypt and is known in the music of the Middle East. Kawala has six holes and you can find it in nine different sizes – according to the maqam (the system of traditional Arabic melodic modes). Here you […]
QANUN Qanun (Arab. قانون) is an Arabic stringed instrument. The Arabic word qanun means ‘law’. This instrument is a descendant of the Egyptian harp – a trapezoid-shaped instrument with 81 strings which is played with a plectrum. Qanun is produced from wood. A musician, when playing, keeps qanun on his knees or on the table. […]
KRAKEBS Krakebs or quraqib / qaraqib / qarqabeb / qraqebs (arab. قراقب) Is type of castanet made of metal. It is used in moroccan music called Gnawa (for ritual and spiritual healing ceremonies). This instrument is known in Morocco and Algeria and all Maghreb countries. Methods of producing the krakebs have not changed for centuries […]
FINGER CYMBALS Finger cymbals / zills / sagat is a percussion instrument popular in the Middle East and North Africa, known also in ancient times. It consists of four circular, metal plates which you can fix on your thumbs and middle fingers in order to tap out a rhythm while dancing. Finger cymbals may make […]
RIQ Riq, rik (arab. رق) is a type of tambourine used in both folk and classical Arabic music. The frame of the riq is made of wood, like apricot or lemon, it can be decorated and it usually is 20 cm wide. We can also find riqs with a metal frame. Riq has ten pairs of […]