Chiftetelli شفتتلي

A rhythm of Turkish origin, widely used in Arab music to accompany vocal or instrumental improvisation. This study uses the spacious 8/4 form, leaving an open ending before the next phrase. [1][2][3]

8/4Turkish origin; also widely used in Arab music

Hear the shape of the rhythm.

BASIC PATTERN

Count the full eight beats: a decorated opening, Dum on 5 and 6, Tek on 7, then space on 8. Avoid rushing the quiet ending.

4 + 4 · quarter-note groups

Darbuka

1DR

e·rest

&·rest

a·rest

2TR

e·rest

&TR

a·rest

3·rest

e·rest

&TR

a·rest

4TR

e·rest

&·rest

a·rest

5DR

e·rest

&·rest

a·rest

6DR

e·rest

&·rest

a·rest

7TR

e·rest

&·rest

a·rest

8·rest

e·rest

&·rest

a·rest

D · DumT · TekK · KaS · Slap· · Rest

What do these notes mean?

Practise Chiftetelli Try Classic

Names & context

Arabic name: شفتتلي
Arabic alternatives: شفته تلّي · شفتتلّي
Other names & spellings: Çiftetelli · Ciftetelli · Tsifteteli

Nasser Salameh draws attention to the open ending of his Chiftetelli phrase; keep counting through that space. [1][2][3]

Video tutorials

Chiftetelli: the eight-beat rhythm
Poetic Percussion · English · Beginner lesson
**Watch & try.** Poetic Percussion’s English introduction to Chiftetelli. Count the full eight-beat cycle and resist filling every rest.
Open on YouTube ↗
Poetic Percussion · ✅ Darbuka Lesson 13 📚 - Chiftetelli 8/4 Rhythm

Sources & further reading · 3 references

Learn

Chiftetelli · شفتتلي

Hear the shape of the rhythm.

Names & context

Video tutorials

Chiftetelli: the eight-beat rhythm

Chiftetelli شفتتلي