Mas'ud al-Sha'ir's
Quick and Dirty Guide to Middle-Eastern Rhythms

Page 3

Rhythm Name

Variation

Rhythm Notation

Bridge

Falahi 4/4

Timing

  |1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a|1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a
&a
tk

Open

  |D T   T D   T   |D T   T D   T

Alternate

  |D T   T D tkT   |D T   T D tkT

Closed w/brdg

tk|DkTktkTkDktkTktk|DkTktkTkDktkTktk

Soufi 6/8

Timing

1&2&3&4&5&6&|1&2&3&4&5&6&

None

Standard

D  K kD   K |D  K KD K K

Serto

Timing

1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a|1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a

None

Standard

D kD ktkD kT ktk|D kD ktkD kT ktk

Zar

Timing

1&2&3&4&|1&2&3&4&

None

Standard

D tkD D |D tkD D

D -> Doum - Played by holding fingers together and striking the center of head
T -> Tek with the Primary Hand on the rim of the drum where the head meets the rim.
K -> Tek with the Secondary Hand on the rim of the drum where the head meets the rim.
[T T T T T] -> Slide edge of secondary hand across head as teks are played


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