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Bolero بوليرو

A measured 4/4 darbuka pattern with Dum on the first and fourth beats and Tek on the two middle beats. Light rim fills connect the main strokes. [1][2][3]

4/4Middle Eastern dance percussion · Bolero adaptations

Hear the shape of the rhythm.

BASIC PATTERN
Darbuka
1DR
&·rest
2TR
&·rest
3TR
&·rest
4DR
&·rest
D · DumT · TekK · KaS · SlapP · PopR · RakZ · ZakKi Ti ki ti · ghost notesTra tra · tek + ka flam· · Rest
What do these notes mean?
Practise BoleroTry Classic

Musical context

  • Song & tarab
  • Raqs sharqi

Names & context

Arabic name
بوليرو

Basic keeps the four main beats. Classic follows the straight-fill phrase in Alper Kekeç’s notation, with two evenly spaced opening Kas. Triplet pickup uses three soft strokes in the second half of beat 1, with timing checked against Kekeç’s first phrase and sticking from Khafif. Dense straight fill follows a separate Khafif collection pattern. [1][2][3]

Regions & traditions

  • Middle East
  • Latin American influence

Musical use and influences can span several regions. [2][5]

Video tutorials

Watch tutorial

Bolero: connect the main beats

Alparslan Seçen · Turkish · Beginner lesson

Watch & try. Follow Alparslan Seçen’s Turkish Bolero lesson and separate the main bass and rim strokes from the fills. Compare its phrasing with the straight-fill version in the app; Bolero is taught with several opening figures.

Open on YouTube ↗

Alparslan Seçen · Darbukaya Giriş Ders #17 | Bolero

Sources & further reading · 5 references
  1. Alper Kekeç / Oscar van Dillen · Bolero notation: straight and triplet phrases
  2. Jas / Jeff Senn (Khafif) · Bolero patterns and variations
  3. Jas / Jeff Senn (Khafif) · Bolero dense straight fill
  4. Shira · Rumba / Bolero in American Oriental dance (performance note)
  5. Región de Murcia · Música y danza árabe: Conga Masri and Rumba / Bolero adaptations