10 Rhythms Every Darbuka Player Must Know, Part 1 of 3: 2/4 Rhythms (Beginning)

Part 1 of a 3 part series on the 10 rhythms every darbuka player must know.
This video introduces the 4 most common Arabic 2/4 rhythms:
Ayoub
Karachi
Malfouf
Khaligi
This beginning doumbek lesson teaches basic and filled versions of each of these rhythms.
A 2/4 rhythm is two quarter notes long and they are often played fast (especially Malfouf). Once you're comfortable playing these rhythms at the speed shown in this video, I recommend grabbing a metronome and trying different tempos. Then try switching between different rhythms and staying in time. Remember: if you're switching between 2/4 rhythms and 4/4 rhythms, the 4/4 rhythm is twice as long. So for example, you can fit 2 bars of Ayoub in the same amount of space as 1 bar of Beledi.

[@KarimMostafa_KarimPhoto]

I'm half Egyptian and my father bought me a Darbuka in Alexandria like 30 years ago. First now I actually started to learn :) And wow, so much fun even when you start to learn the basic :)) Thanks for great tuts.

[@GG-hp8nj]

I'm a beginner darbuka player and I love your very clear and easy to follow lessons. Still working on a consistent doum and ka. Thanks for these tutorials

[@davidebiggimusic]

Very clear! I have a mini doumbek and I'm enjoying learning the different rhytms!

[@VonSolo5]

Thank you so much! Love the style of these lessons 🙌 this was so fun.

[@lorrainekomsan9006]

Amazingly clear instructor i love your tutorials

[@Abbotttdesign]

Thanks a lot! Well articulated teaching!

[@peterjosvai9804]

1:00 Ayoub D D T
1:37 Ayoub D kD T + Dk kD T
2:19 Karachi T T D
3:04 Karachi T kT D + Tk kT D
3:40 Malfouf D T T
4:28 Malfouf D kT kTk
5:00 Khaligi D D T
5:48 Khaligi D kD kTk
it'd be good if you copy-pasted the time values into the description :)
your onscreen notation is perfect!
GREAT lesson!!
- -

[@FoxRiverBridge]

This is super helpful for me in studying Arabic rhythms! Exactly the type of teaching I needed

[@WaldoWally]

Wow. You are an excellent teacher Geoff.

[@peterfernandez5173]

Thank you so much for your videos. I play my darbuka at the local Hindu temple for bhajans and I want to get good for the congregation. I am progressing thanks to your wonderful instruction.

[@yobrojoost]

Thank you so much! I'm going to be playing at a Sufi dance ceremony, good to know these rhythms!

[@geoffchilders]

Hey, how did that Sufi dance ceremony go? Sounds like an amazing opportunity!

[@kostasfilos5472]

You´re such a good teacher!! Been struggling with other CZcams teaching videos but you know how to ease the beginner into the different rhythms gradually so that I’m progressing very well, thank you!!!

[@allieverwantedishere]

Ayoub 1:05, with extra beats: 1:54. Excellent video, by the way, thanks so much for uploading! :)

[@moabushamleh1589]

These lessons are good for the beginner's 👌

[@darvaish4552]

Geoff you are an amazing teacher, i don't have a darbuka but i am playing it on a frame drum, and its lovely

[@MrLuistrike]

thank you for your time an your knowledge, best regards from Colombia.

[@cornwasher]

Truly an excellent lesson and perfect instruction. Thank you....

[@OaktownGirl]

Very helpful - nicely done. Thanks!

[@StuffDays]

Nice Teacher! Nice tecnique

[@mariajames3081]

Nice man

[@user-jc2tt2qg8h]

2:20 I am from Karachi 😁😁

[@michaelcook2459]

💚

[@Djenzoo]

❤

[@fatihdarca9165]

👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏

[@alexandrakingdance]

Hello Geoff, Your lessons are awesome! Do you have a lesson on how to play contra?

[@yaramiye4554]

Very good

[@seldonlives19]

thanks man!

[@alexandrakingdance]

Counter rhythm

[@vaidikpathanugami7971]

Maksum and baladi are also used commonly

[@geoffchilders]

Yep, I cover them in Part 2, which is all about 4/4 rhythms.

[@ex0394]

🕉️🎶🌺💜

[@mehdiestalin7574]

I do not value music in my country ... I thank you very much. I am Iranian

[@tierracaliente1160]

mmmm i am confused...maybe slow motion

[@geoffchilders]

Which part are you confused about?

[@WaldoWally]

I thought it was very clear

[@s.7686]

Geoff Childers it was very clear great!!

[@ColinRixon]

It is so disorienting that my tek sounds like your ka, and vice versa. If I try to play along, it feels like I'm playing backward.
Your teaching is excellent, though.

[@peterfernandez5173]

Tek and ka are the same sound but played on different hands. (so only slightly different because of the difference in hands). the main reason for tek and ka is to see what you're playing with your right and left (dominant and accompanying) hands. I'm just learning too but that's what I got from the video. Hope that helps.

[@peterfernandez5173]

Also, interesting that we are learning to play Darbuka on the same day.

[@ColinRixon]

@@peterfernandez5173 Oh yes, I'm aware. I just mean that the timbre of the tek and ka hits are slightly different, and in the video the sounds are like the reverse of what I get from my drum. It could be my tuning, or youtube audio compression, or any aspect of the recording or playback, but I just thought it was interesting.