Arabic Rhythms

A 4-beat rhythm. The name means “divided”, and it is used constantly for improvising and in tabla solos.

D – T – * – T – D – * – T – *

A 4-beat rhythm. The name means “of the people”, and it is one of the rhythms that define baladi music.

D – D – * – T – D – * – T – *

A 4-beat rhythm from southern Egypt, used for the folk dances of the cane

D – T – * – D – D – * – T – *

A 2-beat rhythm used in rituals such as the Zaar and in music for the Sufi whirl

D – *K – D – T

A 2-beat rhythm of Moroccan origin, very often combined with flamenco rumba and Cuban son.

T – *K – T – D

A 2-beat rhythm of ethnic origin; in Egyptian the name means rolled up

D – *T – * – T

A 2-beat rhythm from northern Egypt, the rhythm of the farmers' music. The name comes from Fal-lahin, meaning “farmer”.

D T – *T – D – T

An 8-beat rhythm, said to be the father of all Arabic rhythms.

D – D – * – T – D – * – T – T

One of the variations of the masmudi kebir; this one opens with three Dums.

D – D – D – T – D – * – T – T

An 8-beat rhythm of Greek origin, tied in Arabic dance to the walk of the camel.

D – * T – * – T – D – D – T – *

A 10-beat rhythm of Umayyad origin from Al-Andalus; in Egyptian the name means “the pleasure of listening”, and it is very common in the Muwashahah.

D – * – * – T – * – D – D – T – * – *

A 4-beat rhythm of Nubian origin; in dance the accents are usually marked.

D – * – T – * – D – D – T – *

A 2-beat rhythm from the Persian Gulf, used for khaleegy dance

D – *D – * – T

An 8-beat rhythm, a variation of the masmudi kebir.

D – D D – * Tk – T k – T – T k – T – T k

A 4-beat rhythm, said to be of Ghawazi origin.

D – * T – * – T – D – * – T – *

An 8-beat rhythm, used constantly in Egyptian classical music.

D – * T – * – T – D – * – T – *

A 4-beat rhythm, heard often in the taqsim of Arabic music. It has the same shape as the malfuf, but slower.

D – T k – T k – T – T k – T k – T – k

A 6-beat rhythm from the folk tradition of Lebanon, in a dance called Dabke

D T – * D – D – * D – D – T

A 4-beat rhythm, used often in music for the dabke, and it can also be mixed with the Saidi.

* – D – * – T – D – * – T – *

A 4-beat rhythm, traditionally used to accompany wedding ceremonies.

D – T T – T – T – D – T – T – *

A 4-beat rhythm, full of drive, used for the Iraqi dabke.

D – D – D – T – D – *T – * – T

A 2-beat rhythm, part of the Nubian folk tradition.

D – T T – D – T

A 4-beat rhythm, with an Afro-Cuban influence

D – * – T – * – D – T – * – *

A 3-beat rhythm; in samai-style composition it usually sits alongside the samai taquil.

D – T T – T

A 3-beat rhythm, with a European influence.

D – T – T

A 2-beat rhythm, normally used for khaleegy-style music.

D – K T – * K – D

A 9-beat rhythm of Turkish origin, used a great deal in Roma dance.

D – * – T – * – D – * – T – * – T

A 4-beat rhythm, with a Latin American influence.

D – T K – T K – D

A 4-beat rhythm with the same shape as the bolero, but played at twice the speed.

D – T K – T K – D

A 4-beat rhythm, used a great deal for dancing with daggers.

D – T T – T – T T

A 2-beat rhythm, full of drive, used for kawaleya dance

D – T T

An Egyptian rhythm in 2 beats.

D – * D – D – T

A 6-beat rhythm.

D – *T – * – D – T – T

A 6-beat rhythm with a quirk of its own: it opens by playing the two taks from the end.

D – *T – *T – D – T – TT

A 12-beat rhythm.

D – * – * – T – * – * – D – D – D – T – * – * – *

A 6-beat rhythm, heard often in Egyptian classical pieces.

D – TT – T – TT – T – TT

A 2-beat rhythm, with an American influence.

D – T

A rhythm of Egyptian origin, in 4 beats.

D – *T – * – T – *T – * – D – D

A 7-beat rhythm, very common in tribal music.

D – * – D – * – T – * – *

A 7-beat rhythm, very common in tribal music.

D – D – T – D – D – * – T

A Turkish rhythm in 9 beats, much like the karsilama but played slower.

T – * – D – * – T – * – T – D – *

A 6-beat rhythm.

D – D – T – D – T – T

A 4-beat rhythm, of Tunisian origin.

D – T – * – T – D – T – T – *

A 7-beat rhythm. Its name means “Hindu Turn”, and it is used a great deal in the Muwashahat.

D – T – T – D – * – T – *

An Iraqi rhythm in 5 beats.

T – D – T – *D – *

A 6-beat rhythm, usually heard in Armenian and Iranian music.

D – * – T – D – T – *

An Armenian rhythm in 2 beats; it also has variations that can run to 4 beats.

D – T – D – D

A 14-beat rhythm.

D – D – D – * – T – * – D – *T – * – T – T – * – T – T

A 7-beat rhythm.

D – * – T – D – * – T – T

A 13-beat rhythm.

D – * – T – D – * – * – T – * – D – D – T – * – *

A 16-beat rhythm.

D – * – D – * – D – *T – * – T – T – * – T- T – D – * – * – *