Rhythms

Get to know the names, the feel and the shape of each cycle.

Ahidous

Morocco · Middle Atlas Amazigh traditions

Ahwash

Morocco · High Atlas and Souss Amazigh traditions

Allaoui

Algeria · western dance traditions

Ayyub

Egypt & the Levant

Bachata

Dominican Republic · darbuka adaptations

Baladi

Egypt & the wider Arab repertoire

Bambi

Egypt · vocal and instrumental improvisation

Bayou

Middle Eastern dance percussion

Berouali

Algeria & Morocco

Bolero

Middle Eastern dance percussion · Bolero adaptations

Chiftetelli

Turkish origin; also widely used in Arab music

Chobi

Iraq · folk music & group dance

Cocek

Balkans · Romani dance music

Conga

Egyptian repertoire · study version

Dawr Hindi

دَور هِندي

Arab classical music · muwashshah repertoire

Djansa

West Africa · Mali / Khassonké tradition

Djolé

West Africa · Sierra Leone / Temine tradition

Fallahi

Egypt · rural folk traditions

Filelia

Morocco

Fox

Arab & Turkish instrumental music · longa repertoire

Funk

Funk · darbuka study

Gnawa

Morocco · Gnawa traditions

Hacha

Arab Sufi music · Levantine and Egyptian repertoire

Jerk

Modern Arab repertoire · study version

Jurjina

جُرجِينا

Iraq, Iran, Turkey & Kurdish repertoires

Kalamatianos

كالاماتيانوس

Greece · folk dance traditions

Karachi

Egypt & the Levant · documented use

Karsilama

كارسيلاما

Turkey · regional dance traditions

Kassa

West Africa · Guinea / Malinké tradition

Khaleegy

Arabian Gulf

Kuku

West Africa · Guinea and neighbouring traditions

Laz / Mantilatos

لاز / مانتيلاتوس

Black Sea & Thrace · regional dance traditions

Maksum

Egypt & the Levant

Malfuf

Egypt & the Levant

Masmoudi

مصمودي كبير

Egypt & the Levant · tarab repertoire

Moroccan Chaâbi

الشعبي المغربي

Morocco · popular music

Muhajjar

Arab classical music · muwashshah repertoire

Mukhammas

Arab classical music · muwashshah repertoire

Murabba‘

Arab classical music · muwashshah repertoire

Nawakht

Arab classical music · muwashshah repertoire

Nawari / Dabke

The Levant · folk music & dabke

Raï / Wahrani

الراي / الوهراني

Algeria · Oran and the raï repertoire

Roman

Turkey · Romani dance traditions

Rumba

Arab song repertoire · Latin American influence

Saidi

Upper Egypt · الصعيد

Salsa

Caribbean · New York · darbuka adaptations

Samai

سماعي ثقيل

Turkish & Arab classical traditions

Samai Darij

سماعي دارج

Arab vocal and instrumental repertoire

Samba

Brazil · darbuka adaptations

Soli Rapide

سولي رابيد

West Africa · Guinea / Malinké tradition

Sombati

Egyptian dance repertoire

Sorsornet

سورسورنيت

West Africa · Guinea / Baga tradition

Sudasi

Lebanon & Palestine · dabke

Thurayya / Aqsaq Turki

Arab muwashshah repertoire

Tiriba

West Africa · Guinea / Landuma tradition

Wahda

Arab tarab · especially Egypt

Wahda Kebira

واحدة كبيرة

Egypt & the Levant · tarab repertoire

Waltz

Europe; adopted into Arab music

Yuruk Samai

يورك سماعي

Turkish origin · Arab muwashshah repertoire

Zaffa

Especially Egypt · wedding processions

A 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]

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.

Explore the strokes & notes →

Sources & further reading · 1 reference

MaqamWorld · Arabic rhythmic cycles