The Dumbek
(Doumbek)

This goblet shaped drum is the universal drum of the Middle East. Arab and Turkish music feature the dumbek, and it is especially prominent in bellydance music. The drum is held under one arm and played mostly with the fingertips. The combination of a deep bass tone ("doum") and crisp, fiery treble tones ("tek") give the dumbeck its exciting sound and its name.

Traditionally, the Arabic dumbek was crafted of clay, with a goatskin or, more ideally, a fishskin head, stretched and glued to the top of the drum. More recently, dumbecks are being made of cast aluminum with a synthetic head. The Turkish dumbek is metal, with a goatskin head attached with a tunable mechanism. Techniques vary from region to region, but all focus on getting both high and low tones.

Cello • Clarinet • Concertina • Violin