The Difference Between Turkish Darbuka And Egyptian Darbuka

The darbuka instrument has a history dating back to the Middle Ages in Egypt. It is also common in Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Arab countries, and North Africa. The darbuka, which is played among other instruments or solos in Turkish Folk Music, has recently started to be recognized as a critical instrument in Turkish Classical Music. This cheerful instrument has different names such as "dumbek", "dumbelek", and "tombek" in other regions. So what is the difference between Turkish darbuka- Egyptian darbuka? You can continue reading our article to learn about the Turkish darbuka- Egyptian darbuka.

History of darbuka    

Darbuka, whose emergence dates back to Egypt in the BC era and has different sizes, has been seen in Anatolian, Mesopotamian, and Central Asian civilizations. Today, darbuka is the most popular in Turkey, Arab countries, and North Africa.

Darbuka, which is used as an instrument in folk music in our country, has also started to take place in our classical music in the 20th century. Unlike the copper darbuka we use, the darbuka used in the Arab world is different. The name of the darbuka in the Arab world is called 'kus'.

About Turkish darbuka          

Turkish darbuka; is a kind of percussion instrument used in wedding, engagement, and circumcision weddings. The body of the Turkish darbuka is made of iron or aluminum. Synthetic leather is used on the head of the instrument. There are multiple screws on the top, around the skin for adjustment.

It is usually played by hitting with fingers or fingertips. Although it differs in some species, its overall dimensions are 22 cm in length and 29 cm in diameter. The traditional Turkish darbuka is made of copper and is held under the arm or resting on the leg.

About Egyptian darbuka        

The Egyptian darbuka is more rounded. It has a deeper sound due to the materials used in its construction.

Common features of Turkish and Egyptian darbuka 

Except for a few minor differences, the Turkish darbuka is the same as the Egyptian darbuka. The body of the Egyptian darbuka is made from fish or goatskin, but in ancient times it was made of clay. Many darbuka players claim that the Egyptian darbuka resembles the African Djembe. In modern times, darbuka bodies are made of various materials such as aluminum, brass, and copper, while leathers are made of plastic or synthetic materials.

People who play the Egyptian drum are aware that they need natural skin to be able to play deeper sounds. Musicians hold the darbuka on their knees to play naturally.

Differences between Egyptian and Turkish darbuka

Egyptian style Darbuka is known as Tabla. Unlike the Turkish darbuka, the Egyptian darbuka has more rounded edges, and the adjusting screws are not exposed at the top.

The body can be carved or decorated with mother-of-pearl. This musical instrument is widely used for belly dancers to dance. However, it's good to know that the melody and playing technique should largely depend on the dance style, setting, and more. Professional players know how to play this instrument using different methods.

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