Rhythms
Get to know the names, the feel and the shape of each cycle.
Maksum
4/4Egypt & the Levant
Explore rhythmBaladi
4/4Egypt & the wider Arab repertoire
Explore rhythmSaidi
4/4Upper Egypt · الصعيد
Explore rhythmNawari / Dabke
4/4The Levant · folk music & dabke
Explore rhythmMalfuf
2/4Egypt & the Levant
Explore rhythmFallahi
2/4Egypt · rural folk traditions
Explore rhythmAyyub
2/4Egypt & the Levant
Explore rhythmMasmoudi
8/4Egypt & the Levant · tarab repertoire
Explore rhythmKhaleegy
2/4Arabian Gulf
Explore rhythmWahda
4/4Arab tarab · especially Egypt
Explore rhythmWahda Kebira
8/4Egypt & the Levant · tarab repertoire
Explore rhythmChiftetelli
8/4Turkish origin; also widely used in Arab music
Explore rhythmSamai
10/4Turkish & Arab classical traditions
Explore rhythmSombati
4/4Egyptian dance repertoire
Explore rhythmKarachi
2/4Egypt & the Levant · documented use
Explore rhythmWaltz
3/4Europe; adopted into Arab music
Explore rhythmZaffa
4/4Especially Egypt · wedding processions
Explore rhythmKarsilama
9/8Turkey · regional dance traditions
Explore rhythmJerk
4/4Modern Arab repertoire · study version
Explore rhythmConga
4/4Egyptian repertoire · study version
Explore rhythmA cycle, with room for expression.
In Arabic music, an iqa‘ is a repeating rhythmic cycle; iqa‘at is the plural. Its written pattern provides the core. A player can add ornamentation according to the music, the ensemble and their own style. [1]MaqamWorld · Arabic rhythmic cyclesmaqamworld.com
Use the Basic patterns here to hear that core, then compare variations and recordings.
A few words worth knowing
- Dum / Doum
- The low, resonant sound.
- Tek / Tak
- The sharper, higher sound.
- Ka
- The app’s name for an alternate-hand rim stroke.
- Rest
- A counted space with no new stroke.