Description: The Doumbek is an ancient goblet shaped percussion instrument that is found throughout the Middle East, North Africa and the Balkans predominantly in Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Albania and in Greece. Some call the doumbek a “tablah”. The origins of the doumbek are quite unclear where the first doumbek was made. The name “doumbek” comes from the Arabic word “to strike”. In Egypt the doumbek is very popular; in Upper Egypt the Nile boatmen call their form of doumbek “Hoqa”. In Morocco and Algeria a form of doumbek called “derbocka” is played amongst Andalucian musicians. In Albania the doumbek is referred to as the "darabuke". The doumbek is known by many regional names "darabuka", "darbuka" or in Bosnia "tarambuka". In Afghanistan a very similar goblet shaped drum is called “zarb-e-ghali”. In European classical music the first exposure for the doumbek was the French Opera “Les Troyens” composed in (1856-1858). Halim El Dabh (b. 1921-03-04 Cairo Egypt) again introduced the doumbek to European classical music. In recent years the doumbek is important to both traditional and contemporary music’s. Recently the doumbek became very popular in world music and including experimental, rock, jazz, and pop music's.
Playing Techniques: In the Middle East (Syria, Jordan and Lebanon) and North Africa, the doumbek is struck by both hands; whereas in Turkey, Bulgaria and in Egypt a small stick is used to strike the doumbek with the left hand.
Anatomy of the Doumbek: Traditionally the doumbek is made of clay or ceramics which fish-skin
or animal hides are stretched over for the striking-surface. The
doumbek in modern times is made of synthetic materials this includes
both the body and the skin. In Egypt the doumbeks are often very
ornate. With my specimen the doumbek body is spun from aluminum.