The Tabla

Also called Dirbakki or Darbuka

Aluminum-body tabla with plastic head from Gawharet El-Fan, Egypt. © MaqamWorld

Pronunciation of Tabla

Pronunciation of Dirbakki

The Tabla (also called "Dirbakki" in Levantine dialects or "Darbuka" in Western countries) is a goblet shaped drum with skin fixed on one side.

Traditional tabla-s are made of clay and have fish or goat skin glued on and held tightly with a system of woven threads. Modern tabla-s have an aluminum body with a replaceable and tunable plastic (Mylar) head.

The tabla is a very popular instrument in folk and pop music, and is especially popular in the Belly Dance genre. It is used to a certain extent in more classical genres.

Hossam Ramzi Egyptian veteran Tabla player Hossam Ramzi talks about the instrument in an interview at Analogue to Digital Music Expo, 2013

Sa‘id al-Artist Egyptian tabla master and teacher Sa‘id al-Artist with his percussion ensemble.

Explore other percussion instruments:

The Riqq
The Tabl Baladi
The Daff
The Mazhar
The Katim
The Sagat