This buying guide will help you decide which instrument is best for you! In summary, there are two sizes of Darbuka we sell, and within each size there are slightly different styles that are available, resulting in different prices.
These are the two Darbuka types we have available:
Let's compare these two sizes to make a better decision as to which is best. This table is representative of the typical Darbuka and Sombaty models that we sell, which are far superior to most other Darbukas available on the market. As such, not all Darbuka and Sombaty models elsewhere will reach these high standards.
DARBUKA | SOMBATY | |
Weight | 4.7 kg | 6.1 kg |
Head Width | 22 cm | 23 cm |
Total Width | 28 cm | 30 cm |
Height | 45 cm | 48 cm |
Shell Material | Aluminium | Aluminium |
Shell Layers | Two (double reinforced) | Two (double reinforced) |
Head Material | Plastic (with metal crimplock) | Plastic (with metal crimplock) |
Tuning System | Internal | Internal |
Tuning Lugs | 6 | 6 |
As can be seen, the Sombaty is larger than the standard Darbuka. The key difference is in the weight, as while the head diameter is only 1 cm bigger, it weighs 1.4 kg more, a 30% increase. Practically speaking, the Sombaty definitely feels bigger.
Let's compare the more practical elements of each size to understand which is better.
DARBUKA | SOMBATY | |
Size | Standard size that the Darbuka has been made in for centuries. The best all round size. | Larger sized Darbuka that larger bodied Darbuka players will feel comfortable with and be able to handle. |
Tradition | Very traditional; the size that the Darbuka has always been known for. This size could trace it's way all the way back to even the Babylonian period. | Modern style which came into common production when improved machinery and access to higher quality metal made it easier to work with larger Darbukas. |
Sound Quality | The classic Darbuka sound, great all round with deep Doum strokes and high pitched Tek and Ka strokes. | An incredibly improved sound quality, with Doum, Tek and Ka strokes resonating significantly better because of the increased skin surface area, and 30% increased weight. |
Both our Darbuka and Sombaty Darbuka models are of incredible quality. Either of these sizes are good enough to gig with on stage, record with in a recording studio or to jam casually with friends. However, the sound of the Sombaty Darbuka is significantly better. You would be very hard pressed to find a Darbuka that beats our Sombaty Darbuka range; they are phenominal sounding instruments. Read about our Export Grade products if you're after the best of the best.
The best all round
Sombaty models are expensive, harder to play and a challenge to handle if you're a younger or smaller sized person. For this reason, we have invested significantly in improving our Darbuka models and making them incredible. Our Pearl Hues collection that we released this year is an incredible collection of fantastic sounding Darbukas. We would highly recommend our standard 22cm Darbuka models to all Darbuka players and we are 100% confident that they will be more than satisfied with them.
If you're a larger sized person
However, in our opinion, if you're medium to large sized person you would see significant benefits of playing a Sombaty Darbuka as opposed to a standard Darbuka. They have more surface area which means you can do more with them, and they produce a significantly better sound. The difference in sound is clearly noticeable. They are more expensive, but definitely a worthwhile investment.
After choosing your ideal size, the next thing to consider is the design of your Darbuka. Darbukas are known for their incredible designs, and our Darbukas have some of the most incredible designs in the world.
The design of your Darbuka should be individual to you, and you should choose something that resonates with you. The differences in price simply represent the level of skill required to make the design or the materials used in the production of the instrument.
There are 3 primary collections in the 22cm Darbuka range:
Collection | Price | Description |
Ivory Pearl | $$ | A classic Darbuka collection using white Mother of Pearl to create stunning designs. |
Pearl Hues | $$ | A new release for 2020 using a combination of white Mother of Pearl pieces and gloss paints to make amazing coloured designs. |
Emerald Pearl | $$$ | Our most premium 22cm Darbuka range, using the highest quality emerald coloured Mother of Pearl pieces imported from New Zealand. These emerald coloured Mother of Pearl pieces are very rare and thus more expensive. |
There are 3 primary collections in the 23cm Sombaty range:
Collection | Price | Description |
Mother of Pearl | $$$ | A classic Sombaty collection using white Mother of Pearl to create stunning designs. |
Blue Mother of Pearl | $$$$ | A premium collection using over 1.5kg of coloured Mother of Pearl pieces from New Zealand per drum to create phenominal Sombaty Darbuka designs. |
Artisan Designs | $$$$ | A collection combining incredible technical Darbuka expertise with artisan designs made by Egyptian artists. These Darbukas look truly extraordinary, and no expense is spared to ensure they're perfect. |
Simply choose which size is right for you, and based on this, choose a design you love! If you're unsure of which Darbuka to purchase, we invite you to Contact Us so that one of our Darbuka experts can advise exactly what Darbuka is the perfect Darbuka for you.
We pride ourselves in offering everything you could possibly need in diving into the world of Arabic music, be it instruments or knowledge. Look no further than our store for a diverse assortment of Arab instruments! Or if it's expertise you seek... check out our Darbuka Mastery Program!
We would be honoured for you to share our passion. Read into Our History, or perhaps discover how our products are made through our Innovation page. Once you've sated your appetite, invite others to join the family too through our social media buttons below! Also, subscribe to our mailing list to keep up with all of the latest goings-on here at Gawharet El Fan!
The Darbuka, a drum that's typically classed in the World Percussion category of musical instruments, is a goblet-shaped drum that is considered to be the leader of percussion instruments in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Darbuka is known as a goblet drum as it narrows in the middle and widens at the base, similar to a goblet or chalice glass. Historically, Darbukas were made of clay or wood with an animal skin stretched over the head; such materials would create high-quality sounds. However, contemporary darbukas tend to be made of aluminium, copper or synthetic fibers, which are ideal as they prevent damage to the darbuka and don't break as easily as clay.
For a more detailed description, read through our other blog post, "What Exactly is a Darbuka?" and also find out about the Darbuka-making process through our Innovation page.
The Darbuka has been around for millennia. Some have estimated that it's origins date back to as far as the Babylonian period. This is likely because hand drums have been an integral part of many cultures and societies, probably since early human history. The Darbuka, a goblet-shaped hand drum, has manifested itself in its current form in the Middle East and North Africa, but other instruments such as the Djembe, Tombak, and West African drums are likely to be different manifestations of the same original Babylonian drums.
In present times the Darbuka is deeply embedded into Middle Eastern and North African heritage. It is used in countries like Algeria and Syria as a core part of any wedding or celebration, consequently, most children (male and female) grow up with some education on how to play the Darbuka. It's no surprise then that some of the Darbuka masters alive today hail from such countries. We take a deeper dive into the origins of the Darbuka in our post, "Where Does the Darbuka Come From?". And whilst your immersing yourself in the past, why not explore Our History as well?
The single-headed feature of the Darbuka is what distinguishes it from other similar musical instruments such as the Tabla or the Dhol. It is also played with the hands, rather than with a stick or beater. This allows for intricate finger patterns to be used in Darbuka rhythms, which is what makes it such a popular instrument in the Middle East. The Turks have taken the Darbuka even further and invented their own playing style, the Turkish split-hand style - which uses all the fingers on each hand to create rapid fast drum rolls that would be impossible on any other drum.
It is likely that the most similar instrument to the Darbuka is the Djembe, another similar shaped drum from Africa. The main difference between the Darbuka and the Djembe lies in the Djembe's typically wooden body and natural skin, and the Darbuka's typically metal body and plastic skin. The Darbuka creates a much higher pitched and sharp sound, whereas the Djembe produces a lower pitch and deeper sound. As such, a Darbuka will cut through a mix of musicians more easily.
The Darbuka has the potential to produce a wide array of sounds (for a percussion instrument), however, most of these techniques require a strong grounding in the basics and a few years of practice. Fortunately, the most basic strokes on the Darbuka are three: the Doum, Tek, and Ka.
The Doum and Tek are played with the dominant hand (typically the hand you write with), and are the core strokes in most Arabic rhythms. The Doum is a deep and powerful bass stroke. It is played by hitting the head of the drum with a curved hand so that the palm area does not hit the drum. The bottom portion of your hand should hit the edge of the Darbuka (the metal section), the palm should not hit and the top two portions of all of your four fingers (phalanges) should hit the center. Remember that the hand should be kept fairly stiff in order to produce the correct deep sound. In contrast, the Tek is the high sound produced with the tips of your fingers hitting the edge of the drum, where the plastic skin meets the metal section of the Darbuka.
The Ka, by contrast, is played with the non-dominant hand. The Ka is the first of the ornamental strokes on the Darbuka, i.e. strokes which are used to make the rhythm sound good and are not necessarily part of the core rhythm. The Ka is played with the fourth finger of your non-dominant hand and it should produce a high-pitched, sharp sound. The Ka should ideally sound very similar to your Tek. Typically, the Ka tends to be quite weak at first, especially for people with little percussion experience. However, with some practice, the Ka can be built up into a very loud and powerful stroke.
We hope you enjoyed this basic introduction to the Darbuka. It truly is one of our passions and we think it's a fantastic instrument. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch with us and we'll do our best to help. If you are interested in purchasing a Darbuka, check out our fantastic selection here. If you want to go further and learn how to play a Darbuka, read our post here.
We pride ourselves in offering everything you could possibly need in diving into the world of Arabic music, be it instruments or knowledge. Look no further than our store for a diverse assortment of Arab instruments! Or if it's expertise you seek... check out our Darbuka Mastery Program!
We would be honoured for you to share our passion. Read into Our History, or perhaps discover how our products are made through our Innovation page. Once you've sated your appetite, invite others to join the family too through our social media buttons below! Also, subscribe to our mailing list to keep up with all of the latest goings-on here at Gawharet El Fan!
"Help! This is the first time I am buying a Darbuka, and I've only just started learning how to play! Please please please could you amazing Darbuka gurus at Gawharet El Fan help me choose my first Darbuka!"
Alright, we admit, it doesn't quite sound exactly like that, but we think you get the point. It's a tough decision; there are so many Darbukas out there, just how exactly does one go about choosing their first Darbuka?
Well, this is a confounding one for most. First things first. Never call a Darbuka a "bongos" or a "bongo drum". It is a cardinal sin. Secondly, please refer to the below for the definitions of the above:
Now, this is definitely a question that needs some careful consideration. There are a number of sizes available, and they range from around 13.5cm (5.3") to around 28cm (11"). Note that when we look at sizes, we are referring to the diameter of the head - the plastic section at the top of the Darbuka. Here are a few general good rules of thumb:
The logic behind this is that you need space on the Darbuka head for both your hands to actually fit and move around the drum and you need the Darbuka to be big enough to sit comfortably on your lap. Also, if it's too small, it will sound terrible! Do it the right way and get yourself a bigger drum than this!
22cm is by far the most popular size of Darbuka, and it's a delight to play for everyone from a 10-year-old child to a large adult. The bass and high notes are also good enough that a competent player would be comfortable performing professionally with a decent 22cm model.
The 23cm Darbukas are a little bigger and about 2kg heavier. Word to the wise, if you think you're big enough of a human being to handle one, go for it! But if you're on the smaller side of the spectrum (or perhaps still growing), stick with a 22cm!
Notice that the subtitle didn't say anything about how good these are? Well, that's because you need to know what you're doing before venturing into the Doholla world! A Doholla is a large Darbuka, and they can be loads of fun to play. However, if you pick up a bad one, this big Darbuka will burn a big hole in your pocket!
The reality is, Dohollas can be expensive, they can be very difficult for beginners to manage, and changing parts can be a nightmare. On the flip side, a well made Doholla can be a dream to play and produce amazing sounds. However, for a beginner, our recommendation would be to keep to the 22-23cm range!
Now, this depends on your expected use. Let's briefly explore the options available:
To be honest, these are rare to come by, and when you do find them they tend to be quite... terrible. We wouldn't recommend getting a wood Darbuka.
You may say that since Darbukas were traditionally made of clay, that these are the best kind of Darbuka, right? Well... Darbukas were also traditionally played in deserts, where it was always hot. Nowadays, the Darbuka is played around the world. Herein lies the core problem of the clay Darbuka; the skin is tied to the body using rope, and the skin is usually a natural animal skin. This means that it will lose its tension should the weather get cold, which is a real problem in Europe and the US! It's also very fragile, which means if you hit it against something hard or drop it, it will likely crack and become unplayable and unrepairable. If you're a beginner, this choice of Darbuka may be unwise!
The invention of the metal Darbuka in the 20th century was indeed a brilliant idea. Now, you no longer have to worry about your Darbuka going out of tune when you need it most, nor do you have to worry about it dropping and breaking. Parts are easy to find and can be fitted yourself, and generally, they sound quite good too. Suffice to say, we recommend metal!
A Turkish Darbuka
The Turkish Darbuka! An interesting spin on the classic round-headed design of the Arabic Darbuka. The Turkish Darbuka is characterised by its flat head with sharp edges and exposed tuning lugs. This makes finger snaps and very advanced Turkish split-hand rolls much easier to play. Furthermore, they're easier to make and so can be cheaper too!
Unfortunately, they are not ideal for beginners and are optimised more for someone playing using the Turkish split-hand technique. This is quite an advanced style of playing and might take years to build up towards. As such, typically a beginner would struggle to improve their playing skills on one of these Darbukas.
Well, if you insist, we would recommend checking out The Fuchsia Orchid or The Sapphire Orchid models. Both models are fantastic choices for beginners, and quite frankly will leave your fellow Darbuka players gob-smacked at their stunning beauty! We whole-heartedly recommend them!
If you need a detailed breakdown of your options, visit our official Darbuka Buying Guide where we give you more technical and practical differences.
Well, that's it from us, if you are a beginner and there is a question still left unanswered, feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch with us and we will do our best to answer!
We pride ourselves in offering everything you could possibly need in diving into the world of Arabic music, be it instruments or knowledge. Look no further than our store for a diverse assortment of Arab instruments! Or if it's expertise you seek... check out our Darbuka Mastery Program!
We would be honoured for you to share our passion. Read into Our History, or perhaps discover how our products are made through our Innovation page. Once you've sated your appetite, invite others to join the family too through our social media buttons below! Also, subscribe to our mailing list to keep up with all of the latest goings-on here at Gawharet El Fan!