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Fallahi فلّاحي

An Egyptian folk rhythm named for the fellahin, or farming communities. Its flowing 2/4 pulse resembles a fast Maksum, but has a smoother, more even balance of bass and rim strokes. [1][2][3][4]

2/4Egypt · rural folk traditions

Hear the shape of the rhythm.

BASIC PATTERN
Darbuka
1DR
ekL
&tR
akL
2DR
e—hold
&TR
a—hold
D · DumT · TekK · KaS · SlapP · PopR · RakZ · ZakKi Ti ki ti · ghost notesTra tra · tek + ka flam· · Rest
What do these notes mean?
Practise FallahiTry Classic

Musical context

  • Folk & social dance
  • Song & tarab
  • Raqs sharqi

Names & context

Arabic name
فلّاحي
Other names & spellings
Fellahi · Fallahy · Falahi

Regions & traditions

  • Egypt

Musical use and influences can span several regions. [1]

Video tutorials

Watch tutorial

Fallahi: the quick two-beat groove

Poetic Percussion · English · Beginner lesson

Watch & try. A concise English introduction to Fallahi in 2/4. Learn the short repeating phrase slowly, then increase the tempo while keeping the bass accents clear.

Open on YouTube ↗

Poetic Percussion · ✅ Darbuka Lesson 11 📚 - Fallahi 2/4 Rhythm

Sources & further reading · 5 references
  1. MaqamWorld · Fallahi / فلّاحي
  2. عالم المقامات · Fallahi / فلّاحي
  3. Jas / Jeff Senn (Khafif) · Fallahi sparse and soft-rim variations
  4. YouTube · Fallahi variations
  5. Salimpour School of Dance / Susu Pampanin · Belly Dance Rhythm Identification