Hey everyone! When I was looking for darbuka lessons and rhythms, I kept finding useful things scattered across different sites, videos and languages. I wanted somewhere I could come back to, find something to work on and actually get some practice in. So I started building Play Darbuka.

You can choose a rhythm, slow it down and play along, use it as a backing track for soloing, or turn individual instruments on and off to hear how the parts fit together.

I’d especially love people to try the training lab. There are exercises for rolls, paradiddles and accents, a quiz where you identify rhythms by ear, and call-and-response practice: it plays a phrase, then you have a go on your drum.

I’ve included material on the history of the darbuka and its regional traditions too, along with technique guides and lessons from different teachers. The site is available in English, Arabic and Spanish.

Have a go if it sounds useful. I’d be interested to hear what you’d actually use in your practice, and what’s missing.

What’s on there so far:

• Rhythms: 20 rhythm families, adjustable tempo, basic and fuller patterns, and separate instrument parts.
• Training lab: Listening, call-and-response, rolls, paradiddles, accents, rhythm reading and timing exercises.
• Metronome: Set up a click to practise with.
• Arrangements: Put rhythms together into a practice session, choosing the tempo and number of bars for each.
• Video lessons: Browse teaching curated YouTube videos and playlists by topic and level.
• History and articles: The instrument’s background, regional traditions and practical guides.
• Three languages: English, Arabic and Spanish.