Darbukas and Doubeks


The darbuka is a single-headed tumbler drum from the Arab world. It consists of a goblet-shaped body and it is played by hand. The modern darbukas are often made of metal, whereas the Turkish models are made of aluminum, copper or brass sheet. The eardrums are usually made of plastic. A warmer, bassier sound is achieved with natural skins. The doumbek is a Persian cup-shaped hand drum. Their melodic sound is a big part of the music.