The Tabl Baladi

Large Drum with Skin on Both Sides

Instrument Index
Tabl Baladi Tabl Baladi with goat skin. © MaqamWorld

The Tabl Baladi is a large drum with wood frame and heavy skin on both sides. It is hung by a belt around the player's shoulder is and played with two sticks: the thick one is for the dum sound played with the dominant hand, and the thin stick is for the tak sound played with the other hand.

The Tabl Baladi is ideal for outdoor music in a village setting ("baladi" means "from the village") and can provide the beat for line dances such as the "Dabke" alongside equally loud instruments like the Mizmar. The Tabl Baladi does not play very complex or ornamented rhythms and is ideal for heavy 4/4 iqa‘at like Baladi, Sa‘idi and especially Nawari.

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