Top Ten Arabic Musical Instruments

Arabic culture is characterized by colorful rituals, ceremonies and merrymaking. It is known for distinct, upbeat, and exotic sounds. Along with the various melodies are musical instruments used to achieve different tones and moods.

Arab music has many international influences, such as Greek, Persian, and African. Middle Eastern people usually use four main instruments: the 'ud, nay, qanun and kaman, plus a percussion instrument called the rikk. These are accompanied by other equally-melodic instruments.

Here are the top ten Arabic musical instruments:

Top 10: Bendir

Another type of Arabic drum is the bendir or bandir. Usually used throughout North Africa, especially in Morocco, the bendir has goat skin for a cover and is made of wood. It consists of two strings stretched along the underside that produces a distorted percussive sound. These strings are often made out of gut and can give off a buzzing quality when struck.

Top 9: Garagab

These Moroccan musical instruments resemble Spanish castanets in shape. Sometimes called qarqaba or qaraqib, this instrument is shaped like a figure eight and consists of metal clackers that look like double castanets. Two are held in each hand. This percussion family member produces an untuned sound when shaken, scraped or struck.

Untuned instruments are those that create sounds with indefinite pitch such as the knocking sound on a door.

Garagabs come in varying thickness and circumference.

Top 8: Mijwiz

In the villages of Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Palestine and Libya, people play a popular type of double reed clarinet called the mijwiz. It means “dual” in Arabic and is known by different names in different places.

North Africans call it “magrum” and the Lebanese have a version they refer to as “minjayrah”. You can play it by breathing through the circular opening at one end and varying the position of your fingers on the holes located in front of the tube to create different sounds.

Top 7: Tablah

Would like to feel relaxed, lower your blood pressure, reduce stress, and boost your immune system? Try drumming. Research studies have shown that drumming can be a form of therapy for people who suffer from anxiety.

To enjoy your first try at drumming, you can give a Middle-Eastern twist to it. Use the Arabic drum called a tablah. Also known as durbakke or derbouka, this drum is vase-shaped or conical and has a wide neck. This percussion instrument has a membrane of fish or goat skin.

It can be made of metal or earthenware, and is usually positioned under your left arm or between your legs. For strong beats, strike the middle part. For sharp in-between sounds, tap the edges.

Top 6: Qanun

Since the 10th century, the qanun has been an important instrument in Arabic music. It was a descendant of the old Egyptian harp and was introduced to Europe during the 12th century. Later, it was known as the zither or the psaltery.

This trapezoid-shape instrument contains 81 strings in groups of three. You position it flat on your knees or on the table. Using your finger or plectra, which are small pieces of metal, bone or plastic material for plucking, you can create raised or lowered pitches and vary them by stopping the strings with levers.

The development of this instrument has been attributed to shepherds.

Top 5: Buzuq

Buzuq is a Turkish term which means “burnt head” or “uprooted”. Often, this is seen as a relative of the Turkish saz, only it is deeper-toned and larger in size. The instrument saz belongs to the long-necked lute family and is similar type of chordophone.

It is characterized by a fretted long neck. It also has two metal strings that are played using a plectrum for lyrical resonance. The gypsy musicians of Syria and Lebanon use the buzuq as their main instrument.

Top 4: Nay

The nay is a favorite for its mellow, fine and melancholic tones. This is an Arabic flute from Persia, which was created by the Sumerian civilization.

It is a single reed pipe that has six holes in the front for your fingers and a hole underneath for your thumb. You control the force of your blowing to achieve tones in different scales and octaves.

Top 3: Rikk

During the 11th century, black slaves were brought to the Arab countries. Some of these slaves were attractive women who were assigned to entertain officials. They were called harems. Dancing to the sound of the lutes and rikk, they also pioneered belly-dancing.

A rikk is an Arabic musical instrument that is like an English tambourine. Also called a “daff”, this instrument has a round frame with goat or fish skin covering one side. Around the frame are pairs of metal discs that produce a jingle sound when struck against your palm.

This sets the jovial rhythm of an Arabic music used for celebrations and performances. In modern times, the tambourine is used for parties, acoustic performances and karaoke.

Top 2: Kaman

The kaman is actually a European violin that was adapted by Arabic musicians during the 19th century. Also called kamanjah, this instrument replaced the Egyptian two-string fiddle. Although fretless, the kaman can produce all the different intonations. The playing style can include slides, wide vibrato and double stops. The timbre can range from rich to warm. You should hold this under your chin as with any violin.

Top 1: 'Ud

Some musical instruments originally came from Arabs. The lute is a stringed instrument that has the shape of a pear sliced lengthwise. Its neck has a fretted fingerboard bent just below the tuning pegs.

It is said to have come from the Spanish laud, but it actually originated from the Arabic “al-'ud”, which means “branch of wood”. From the 8th to 10th centuries, this Arabic musical instrument only had four strings. Then, Andalusian performer Zitiab added the fifth string. The sixth one was added in the 15th century.

Known as the “king of all instruments”, the 'ud is plucked in solo or in ensemble. The sound it produces has warm timbre, microtonal flexibility, as well as low tessitura, or the prevailing range of an instrument. Be prepared to be mesmerized with its mellow and deep sound.

These musical instruments make Arabic music distinct and amazingly eccentric. If you have the chance to experience and play them personally, you won't forget those Arabian nights you had with their music.