Jas's Middle Eastern Rhythms List

Look at this first:

rhythms annotations page -- contains a great deal of information about some of these rhythms.

I notice there is a tendancy for beginning drummers to want to quickly "collect" as many rhythms as they can. (Hey, I did it too.) Let me point out that it is not the number of rhythms you can play, it's more about being able to communicate clearly with the vocabulary you have. Some of the "best" Middle Eastern drummers usually play only a couple of rhythms. Most songs are to basic rhythms of 2, 4, 6 or 8. The art of Middle Eastern drumming is in doing the most with what you have -- playing perfectly and precisely -- ornamenting the rhythm appropriately -- making all of the sounds that your instrument can make pleasingly.

 TODO: this page is not very well formatted yet and lacks
  hotlinks between rhythms among other things

That said here is a "convenient" list of a few hundred rhythms and variations.

`abwanii (6/8=2+4)

`alaajjii(tunisia) (6/8)

`aliilaawii(iraq) (10/8)

`allaajii (6/8=3+3)
see: mudawwar al-Hawzii(Algeria/Tunisia)

`allaawii(algeria) (2/4)

`araj al-batii' (3/4)
see: yuruk as-samaa`ii

`araj as-samaa`ii (3/4)
see: yuruk as-samaa`ii

`araj at-turkii (5/8=2+3)

`araj at-turkii (5/8)
[' Turkish late 19th c.']

`arda al-awwal(kuwait) (3/4)

`arda ath-thaanii(kuwait) (6/8)

`arwaasii ath-thaanii(libya) (8/16)

`arwasii al-awwal(libya) (4/8)

`athamaanii al-awwal(libya) (3/8)

`athamaanii ath-thaanii(libya) (6/8)

`awiis (11/8=3+4+4)

`awiis (11/4=3+4+4)

`awiis (11/4=3+3+5)
["Touma's version : rotated from others I've seen"]

a`araj al-kabiir (18/8=3+3+2+2+4+4)

a`araj samaa`ii (3/4)
see: daarij

aaghr aqsaaq samaa`ii (20/8=10+10)

Touma: without 3rd DUM

aanadulus (7/8=4+3)
see: dawr al-hindii

abyaat(tunisia) (8/8)

3+2+3

4+4

adoni(yemen) (4/4)

afr mawlawii (9/4=4+2+3)

aghr aqsaaq turkii (5/4=4+1?)

aghr aqsaq (9/4=4+2+3)

aghr dawr hindii (7/4)

al fezzaanii ath-thaalath(libya/tunisia) (8/16=4+4)

al foks al-`arabii (2/8)
[' see also "vox"']

al jalwah(libya) (2/8)
see: al foks al-`arabii

al masa al-habiib(kuwait) (16/4=2+2+2+2+2+4+2)

al muthallath(iraq) (8/8)
see: jubii(Iraq)

amrii(libya) (14/8=4+4+3+3)

antikrysto zeymbekiko(greek - smyrni) (9/8=2+3+2+2)

aptaliko zeymbekiko(greek - attalia asia minor) (9/8=3+6)

aqsaaq (9/8=2+2+2+3)
['Turkish/Greek dance']

Romany variation

aqsaaq al-ifraanjii (9/8=4+2+3)
['Turkish origin']

aqsaaq araj (9/8)
[' Touma?']

4+2+3

aqsaaq at-turkii (5/4)

aqsaaq samaa`ii ath-thaqiil (20/8=10+10)
see: aaghr aqSaaq samaa`ii

aqsaaq(turkey/egypt) (9/8)

4+5

2+2+5

2+2+5

arb`a w' al-`ashriin halbii (24/4)

=2+2+3+3+3+3+4+4

=4+4+4+4+4+4

arb`a wal-`ishruun (48/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

arwal (2/4)
see: baruel

assamaarii(libya) (4/4)

awfar (19/4=6+4+2+7=2+2+2+2+2+2+3+4)
see: awfar al-maSrii

awfar al-masrii (19/4=6+4+2+7=2+2+2+2+2+2+3+4)

Touma

awsat al-`arabii (13/8=2+4+2+5)

awsat al-maasuur (13/8=2+4+2+5)
see: awsaT al-`arabii

awsat at-turkii (13/4=3+2+1+3+4)

ayyuub(egypt) (4/8)

azdaad(libya) (5/8)

b'taa'ihii(algeria) (4/8)

bahrii sayafii (6/8=4+2)

bajja (3/8)

bajja(sudan) (4/8)

bajja(sudan) (3/4)

bakdaash haanah (14/4=3+4+3+4)

baladii (4/4)

baladii al-maqluub (4/4)

ballasiiq ash-shaamii (16/4)

=3+3+4+3+3

ballos(greek - smyrni) (4/4)
see: syrto(Greek/Balkans)

bambii(egypt) (4/4)
[' modern dance rhythm (ala Hossam Ramzy)']

banchakiir (18/8=3+3+2+2+4+4)
see: a`araj al-kabiir

barifshaan at-turki (32/4)

=4+2+4+2+4+4+2+2+4+2+2

baruel (2/4)
['"lively"']

barwal (4/8)

barwal (8/8)

bashraaf thaalath(libya) (10/4=3+3+2+2)

bashraaf thaanii(libya) (8/4=3+5)

bashraf(algeria) (4/4)
['nuba']

basiit(morocco) (12/8=4+4+4)
['nuba']

bataa'ihii(algeria) (4/8)

bayou(egypt) (2/4)
['rAqs sharqYY solo']

bolero (4/4)

btaa'ihii (8/4=2+3+2+1)
['Touma']

btaa'ihii (16/4)

=4+4+2+3+3

btaa'ihii(morocco) (8/8=3+2+3)

btaa'ihii(tunisia) (8/8=3+2+3)

btaa'ihii(tunisia) (4/4)

buhalla(tunisia) (6/8)

bunawwaara(tunisia) (8/8)

bunawwarat`aqrabii(tunisia) (2/4)

buziiqa(tunisia) (2/4)

chaka (12/8=6+4+2)
see: shaakaa

chetvorno (7/8=3+2+2)

chochek (4/4=3+3+2)
see: cocek(Romany/Macedonia)

cocek(romany/macedonia) (4/4=3+3+2)
['should swing']

curcuna(armenia/turkey) (10/8)
see: jurjina(Eqypt/Afghani)

daarij (6/8)

daarij (3/4)

dahwah(iraq) (4/4)

dajchovo(balkans) (9/8=2+2+2+3)
[' (or 9/16)']

last tek is often syncopated

Macedonian/Turkish

daliib(sudan) (3/4)

daluuka(sudan) (3/4)

triplets empty in the middle?

darb al-fatih (176/4)
[' "conquering rhythm"']

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

darb al-wasta(yemen) (4/4)

darb as-sarii'(yemen) (4/4)

darij al-awwal(algeria) (8/16)

darij ath-thaanii(algeria) (4/4)

darij(tunisia) (6/4)

darij(tunisia) (24/4)

=4+4+6+2+4+4

darj (4/4)
['Touma (perhaps flawed)']

darj (6/8)
['Souhail Kaspar']

darj(algeria) (6/8)

darj(morocco) (8/8=4+4)

second half varies in ornament

das'a kabiir(yemen) (11/8)

das'a mutawassit?(yemen) (7/8)
['medium']

das'a saghiir(yemen) (7/8)
['fast']

dawaarii (10/8=4+6)

dawr al-hindii (7/8=3+4)

dawr al-hindii (7/8=4+3)

dawr al-kabiir halbii (28/4)

=2+4+3+3+4+2+4+4+2

Syria

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4

dawr al-kabiir turkii (28/4)

=2+4+4+4+2+4+4+4

=2+4+4+4+4+2+4+4

dawr halbii (12/4=4+4+2+2)

dawr rawaan halbii (13/4=3+4+4+2)

dawr rawaan mawlawii (14/8=3+4+3+4)

dawr rawaan sharqii (13/4=3+4+4+2)

dawr rawaan turkii (28/4)

=2+4+2+4+2+2+2+4+4+2

dawr rawaan turkii awwal (13/4=3+2+4+4)

dawr rawaan turkii thaani (13/4=2.5+4+2+2.5+2)

dharaafaat(widespread arabic) (13/8=3+3+4+3)
see: Zaraafaat

djerbi(tunisia) (2/4)
see: baruel

dkhuul al-barwal(tunisia) (4/4)

??

duuyek (4/4)

faaht al-warash (10/4=2+4+4)

faakhitii (20/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr; also RisAla al-sharafiyya ']

RisAla al-sharafiyya

faakhitii (28/8)
['RisAla al-sharafiyya ']

RisAla al-sharafiyya

RisAla al-sharafiyy

faakht (20/4)

=2+4+2+2+4+4+2

Egypt

=4+4+4+4+4

faakht' al-`arabii (20/4)

=2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2

=2+2+2+2+4+2+2+4

faakht' at-turkii (20/4)

=2+2+2+2+2+2+4+4

faarsii (5/4)
['?']

faarsiia(libya) (3/4)
['Persian origins']

fajjar (11/8=3+8)

fajjarii makhlaafii (6/8=3+3)
see: yuruuk samaa`ii

fakartii (15/4=4+2+3+3+3)

fakirah (15/8=3+3+2+2+5)

falaahii(egypt) (2/4)

fan bahrii(kuwait) (8/4=3+2+3)

fan hasaawii(kuwait) (4/8)

fan najaddii(kuwait) (6/4=3+3)

far`a (32/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+2+2+4+4

far`a turkii(syria) (32/4)
see: far`a

farankchiin at-turkii(turkey/syria) (24/4)

=2+4+2+4+4+4+2+2

fast waahida (4/4)
see: waaHida khafiif

fast wasta (4/4)
see: Darb as-sarii'(Yemen)

fezzaani al-baladii(tunisia) (4/4)
see: fezzaani al-beduui(Tunisia)

fezzaani al-beduui(tunisia) (4/4)

fezzaanii al-awwal(libya) (4/4)
['national rhythm of Tunisia?']

fezzaanii al-liibii(libya/tunisia) (4/4)

fezzaanii ath-thaanii(libya/tunisia) (8/8=4+4)

fezzaanii(tunisia) (4/4)
[' dance music']

first thaqiil (8/4)
['Safi-al-Din 13th c.']

gankino (11/8)

ghiita(tunisia) (6/8)

greek tsifteteli(greek) (4/4)

traditional

modern

modern

gubbaahii (2/4)
['sha`bI music']

gumbahii(algeria) (2/4)
see: gubbaahii

haawii (128/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+2+4+4+6+4+4+4+4+4+4+2+2+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

haddaadii(kuwait) (12/8=3+3+3+3)

haddaawii (12/8)

4+3+3+2

3+4+3+2

3+4+3+2

4+3+3+2

hafa(libya) (4/4)

hajj`a (2/4)

hajjaawii(libya) (4/4)

halla(tunisia) (6/8)

harbii al-khafiif(sudan) (4/8)

harbii ath-thaqiil(sudan) (6/8=3+3)

harbii(tunisia) (4/4)

hasajja(egypt/iraq) (6/8)

hazaj (6/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr']

=1+0

al-aSl

=1+0

RisAla al-sharafiyya

=0+0

hazaj (12/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr']

=1+0+0+0

=1+0+0+0

hazaj al-`arabii (22/4)

=2+4+4+2+2+4+4

=2+4+4+2+3+4+3

hazaj at-turkii (44/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+2+4+4+2+4+4

hiiwa (3/4)

hiiwah(iraq) (6/8)

hrub(tunisia) (3/8)
see: silsila(Tunisia)

insiraaf (5/8)
[' penultimate nuba phase before khlaS']

1st bar

2nd bar

istabadaa(saudi) (7/8)

jabaalii(saudi) (4/8)
see: b'Taa'iHii(Algeria)

jaluuha(libya) (2/4)
see: sariir

januubi(qatar) (4/4)

jerbi(tunisia) (4/4)
[' dance rhythm; Isle of Jerba']

jerk(egypt/nubia) (4/4)
[' modern Nubian dance rhythm']

Souhail Kaspar

Souhail Kaspar

jiftah (6/4=2+2+2)

jiftah duyuk turkii(turkey) (16/4)

=2+4+2+4+4

jiftah duyuk(turkey) (16/4)

=2+2+4+2+3+3

jiib(qatar) (8/4=3+5)

jiirak (4/4)

jubii(iraq) (8/8)

jurjina(eqypt/afghani) (10/8)

2+3+2+3

5+5

juurjina (10/16)

kalamantiano(greece) (7/8=3+2+2)
[' Kalamata is a port in Southern Greece']

kamilieriko zeymbekiko(greek) (9/4=2+2+2+3)

karaatshi(egypt) (2/4)
['']

karaatshi(egypt) (2/4)

karaatshii(egypt) (2/4)
see: gubbaahii

karsilama(turkey) (9/8=2+2+2+3)
see: aqSaaq

khafiif (12/4=4+4+4)

khafiif al-`arabii(syria) (32/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+3+2+3

khafiif al-ramal (6/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr; also RisAla al-sharafiyya ']

=0+1

khafiif al-ramal (12/8)
['RisAla al-sharafiyya ']

=0+1+0+1

khafiif al-ramal (10/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr']

=0+0+0+0

al-aSl

=0+0+0+0

khafiif al-thaqiil (16/8=2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr']

khafiif al-thaqiil (2/4)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr']

=0+0

RisAla al-sharafiyya

khafiif at-turkii (32/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+3+3+2

khafiif(tunisia) (6/4)

khalaas al-awwal(algeria) (6/8)

khalaas ath-thaanii (3/4)
['Andalusian music']

khaliijii (2/4)
see: sa`udii

khamaari(kuwait) (16/8=6+4+4+2)

khamaarii (4/8)

khamriia(qatar) (3/4)

khatafa(qatar) (16/8=5+2+4+5)

khatiim(tunisia) (3/4)

khatim al-musaddar(tunisia) (6/8=1+4+1)

khatim(tunisia) (6/8)

khawash ranak (17/8=3+2+4+3+5)

khlas (3/8)
['nuba rhythm']

Algeria

kopanica(bulgaria/balkans) (11/8)
see: gankino

kopanitsa(bulgaria/balkans) (11/8)
see: gankino

laf(egypt/levant) (2/4)

lamaawiismii (15/8=3+2+3+4+3)

lanak al-faahta (10/8=2+3+3+2)

latin (2/4)

laz bar(greece) (7/8=3+2+2)
see: laz(Greece)

laz(greece) (7/8=3+2+2)

laziko(greece) (7/8=3+2+2)
see: laz(Greece)

lesnoto(macedonia) (7/8=3+2+2)

makhaalfii(qatar) (4/4)

makhbuut(sudan) (3/4)

makhlas(iraq) (2/4)

makhlas(morocco) (3/8)
see: khlaS

makhluf(kuwait) (6/8)

malfuuf (2/4)
see: baruel

mannuubiyya(tunisia) (12/8)

mantiliatos(thrace/trapezounta/trabzon) (7/8=4+3)
['kerchief dance; very fast']

maqsuum (4/4)

"walking"

marb`a(libya) (6/8)

marduum(sudan) (2/4)

marras`a ash-shaamii (19/8=4+3+4+6+2)

4+5+4+6 Touma?

mars`a (12/4=3+2+3+4)

mashad(tunisia) (8/8=5+3)

masmuudi as-saghiir (4/4)

masmuudii (8/4)
[' the Masmouda are Berbers who live west of the Rif and Grand and Middle Atlas in Morocco']

masmuudii al-kabiir (8/4=4+4)

mathalwat(saudi) (4/8)

medium wasta (4/4)
see: Darb al-wasta(Yemen)

moroccan 6 (6/8)

mudaa`af al-ramal (24/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; RisAla al-sharafiyya ']

al-aSl

mudawwar (12/4=4+2+4+2)

mudawwar al-`arabii (6/4=2+4)

mudawwar al-`arabii (6/4)

mudawwar al-halbii (12/4=4+4+4)

mudawwar al-hawzii(algeria/tunisia) (6/8=3+3)
['Algerian wedding']

mudawwar al-masrii (12/4=4+2+4+2)
see: mudawwar

mudawwar ash-shaamii (10/4=4+2+4)

mudawwar ash-shaamii (12/4=4+4+4)

mudawwar at-turkii (12/4=4+4+4)

mudawwar rubaa`ii (14/4=2+4+4+2+2)
see: muHajjar al-maSrii

muhajjar (14/4=4+2+4+4)
['muHajjar is "stone mosaic"']

muhajjar al-`arabii (14/4=4+4+2+3+3)

muhajjar al-masrii (14/4=2+4+4+2+2)

muhajjar al-musaddar (28/4)

=2+2+4+4+3+3+3+3+4

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4

muhajjar dawlaab maqluub (17/4)

=4+3+4+2+4

muhajjar dawlab maqlub (17/8=5+3+4+2+4)

mujarrad (5/8)

Tunisia

mukhammas (16/4=7+3+2+4)
['mukhammas is a type of Persian verse']

mukhammas al-`arabii (8/4=4+2+2)

mukhammas al-masrii (16/4=2*8)

mukhammas at-turkii(syria) (32/4)

=4+4+2+4+2+4+2+2+4+2+2

murabb`a al-beduui(tunisia) (8/8)

murabb`a(tunisia) (4/4)

bedUi desert form

murabba` (13/4=3+4+2+2+2)
[' murabba` means "square"']

murabba` al jazaa'ira (4/4)
see: zaffah

murabba` ash-sharqii (13/4=3+4+4+2)
['\'eastern square"']

musaddar(algeria) (4/4)

musaddar(algeria) (8/8=3+3+2)

musaddar(algeria/tunisia) (6/4=3+3)

musaddar(tunisia) (12/4=5+4+3)

musaddar(tunisia) (12/8)

muzzarkaawii(libya) (2/4)
['nuba ']

nabawii(sudan) (6/4)

nabawii(sudan) (4/8)

najjama(libya) (7/8)

naqara (2/8)
['TA`ir = "vanish" or "swing"']

naqash (16/8=3+2+3+3+2+3)

naqash al-arb`iin (40/4=22+12+6)
['hazaj+mudawwar turkI+mudawwar `arabI']

????

naqash as-sitta -u-ath-thalaathiin(syria) (36/4=8+12+16=4+4+2+2+2+2+2+2+4+2+4+2+4)
['muHammas `arabI+rawAn maSrI+niSf muHammas turkI or muHammas `arabI+rawan `arabI awwal+niSf muHammas turkI']

naqrazaan ar-raba`(saudi) (4/4)

naqrazaan ath-thaalat(saudi) (4/4)

naqsh as-sab`at `ashr (syria) (17/4=3+7+5+2)
[' a`araj+nawakht+aghir aqSaq+wAHda']

naqsh ath-thamaaniat-`ashr (18/4)

=4+4+4+3+3

nawakht (7/4=3+2+2)
[' Persian "to beat"']

nawakht al-hindii (16/4)

=2+3+4+3+4

nawakht al-hindii (16/8=2+3+4+3+4)

nawwari(syria/lebanon) (4/4)
[' line dances']

neda voda(macedonia) (11/8)

Macedonian "Porch Song"

niim al-hazaj (14/4=2+2+2+2+2+2+2)

niim al-khafiif (16/4)

niim an-nawaakht (7/8=3+4)

niim dawr kabiir mawlawii (14/4=1.5+1.5+1.5+1.5+3+2+3)

niim dawr(syria) (18/4)

=2+4+3+3+4+2

=2+4+3+3+4+2

niim rawaan (9/4=4+5)

niim thaqiil turkii (48/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+2+2+4+4+4

niim uyuun hawaasii (11/8=4+3+4)

nisf muhammas turkii (16/4)

=4+2+4+2+4

nisf niim dawr (12/4=2+3+2+3+2)

noht(egypt/tunisia) (7/4=3+2+2)
see: nawakht

noss al-wahda (4/4)

pajdushko(balkans) (5/8=2+3)

pousnitsa(serbia/macedonia/greece/rom) (15/16)
['"Greek jazz"']

pravo(balkans) (2/4)
[' or possibly in triplets (6/8)']

pravo(balkans) (6/8)
[' triplets similar to Zonaradikos-- probably in 2/4 normally']

qallaal (4/4)

intro measure

qantara(morocco) (6/8=2+2+2)

qatiquftii al-awwal (8/8=3+2+3)
[' Turkish origin']

qatiquftii ath-thaani (8/8=3+5)
[' Turkish origin']

qayiim wa nisf(morocco) (8/8=5+3)

3+2+3 Touma writes it this way (rotated?)

qerqenii as-sarii`(tunisia) (2/4)

qerqenii(tunisia) (4/4)

quddaam (3/4)
[' Touma']

quddaam(morocco) (6/8=4+2)

raaks al-awwal(sudan) (5/8)

raaqs ath-thaanii(sudan) (2/4)

rachenitsa(bulgaria/balkans) (7/8)

radmaan(saudi) (5/4=3+2)

rahaj (22/4)

=2+2+2+2+2+2+1+1+3+2+2

ramal (12/8)
['13th c. : ']

SafI al-DIn: KitAb al-adwAr;

=0+0+0+0+1

SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr; also RisAla al-sharafiyya

=0+0+1+1

al-aSl; SafI al-DIn: KitAb al-adwAr;

=0+0+0+0+1

RisAla al-sharafiyya

=0+1+0+1

RisAla al-sharafiyya

=1+0+1+0

ramal al-halbii (28/4)

=4+4+2+4+4+2+3+2+3

ramal at-turkii (56/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

rambaa (2/4)

rannaan (13/4=5+4+4)

raqsaan (15/8=3+2+3+4+3)
see: lamaawiismii

rawaan (14/4=3+3+2+3+3)

rawaan al-`arabii al-awwal (12/4)

rawaan al-`arabii ath-thaanii (12/4=4+4+4)

rawaan ash-shaamii (13/4=4+2+3+4)

riyaabiiya(libya) (5/4=3+2)

ruchenitsa(bulgaria/balkans) (7/8)
see: rachenitsa(Bulgaria/Balkans)

rufaa`aya(egypt) (4/8)

rumbaa (2/4)
see: rambaa

s`adaawi(tunisia) (12/8)

s`aiidii(egypt) (4/4)

sa`udii (2/4)

saadaayya (8/4)

saadah ad-duyuk (16/8=8+8)

saamrii al-'awwal(kuwait) (3/4)

saamrii al-awwal(saudi) (9/8=4+5)

saamrii ath-thaalath(saudi) (6/8)

saamrii ath-thaanii(kuwait) (9/8)

saamrii ath-thaanii(saudi) (7/8)

sabamaa (4/4)

saidi (4/4)
see: baladii al-maqluub

saliitaanii(qatar) (10/4)

samaa`ii ad-daarij (6/8)
see: daarij

samaa`ii ad-daarij (3/4)
see: daarij

samaa`ii ad-daarij(qatar) (6/8=3+3)
see: yuruuk samaa`ii

samaa`ii al-faht (10/8=3+4+3)

samaa`ii al-muzadawaj (20/8=3+2+3+2+2+2+3+3)

samaa`ii aqsaaq (10/8=2+3+2+3)

samaa`ii aqsaaq thaqiil (5/4=3+2)

samaa`ii as-saraband(egypt) (3/8)
see: saraband

samaa`ii ath-thaqiil (10/8=3+2+3+2)

samaa`ii daarij (3/4)

is this two bars?

is this two bars?

samaa`ii taaiir(tunisia) (3/8)

samaah (36/4=12+8+4+8+4)
['Touma']

samaah(egypt) (18/8=8+4+6)

samaah(iraq) (38/8=8+8+8+8+6)
['classical']

san`aa'ii(saudi) (8/8)

sandasko(bulgaria) (22/16=13+9)
[' a shortened 22(short on 9', '11);non-Bulgarians count 9+9+4']

sankiin as-samaa`ii (6/4=3+3)

saraband (3/8)

sariir (2/4)

sayyidii(egypt) (4/4)
see: baladii al-maqluub

sedi donka(bulgaria) (25/16=7+7+11)
[' lengthened 12/8']

sh`abaanieh(egypt/iraq) (5/8)

sh`abii al-liibiya (4/4)

sha'bia(morocco) (12/8)
['polyrhythm "heart and lung"']

heart

lung

shaakaa (12/8=6+4+2)
['modern rhythm; David Korup/Durr']

shabiithii(kuwait) (8/4=4+4)

shakriia(sudan) (5/8)

shanbar (48/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

shanbar al-halbii(syria) (24/4)

=2+4+4+4+4+2+4

=2+4+4+4+4+2+4

shanbar at-turkii (24/4)

=4+2+4+4+2+4+4

shanbar madaa`anii wa yasmii jiftah shanbar(egypt) (48/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

shanbar madaa`anii wa yasmii shiftah shanbar(egypt) (48/4)
see: shanbar maDaa`anii wa yasmii jiftah shanbar(Egypt)

shanshaanii (6/8=1+5)

sharqiin al-awwal(saudi) (4/4)

sharqiin ath-thaanii(saudi) (16/8)

shifta yuruk samaa`ii (12/8=3+3+3+3)

shiftaatellii(egypt) (4/4)
[' Greek/Turkish: Egyptians think of it as "laf"+another 2']

shiftah duyuk turkii(turkey) (16/4)
see: jiftah duyuk turkii(Turkey)

shiftah duyuk(turkey) (16/4)
see: jiftah duyuk(Turkey)

shiiltoh(persia?) (7/8)

messed up? possibly should be a 6?

shiishtosh(persia) (6/8)
['should "swing"']

shuush (5/8)

silsila al-musaddar (6/4=3+3)
['silsila == "chained"']

silsila(tunisia) (3/8)

sitt '`ashra halbii (16/4)

=2+2+2+3+3+4

sitta `ashr al-masrii (32/4)

=4+4+4+2+4+4+2+8

sittat-`ashr masrii (32/4)

=4+4+4+2+4+4+2+3+3+2

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

slow waahida (4/4)
see: waaHida sayyaara

sombati (4/4)
['tAqasIm or vocals; similar to maqsUm -- different accent']

sousta(greek - aegean islands and crete) (2/4)
['line dance']

sufyaan (2/4)

sufyaan (4/4)

sufyaan at-turkii (12/8)

sufyaan(algeria) (7/8=3+4)

suufyaan(algeria) (19/8=7+7+5)
['muwashashat']

suuga(tunisia) (4/4)

swat al-`arabii(kuwait) (12/8=7+5)

a second part out of phase

swat al-khaliij (3/4)
see: yuruk as-samaa`ii

swat ash-shaamii (4/4)

swat(kuwait) (8/8=3+2+3)

Touma?

syrto(greek/balkans) (4/4)
['very popular greek rhythm']

"gypsy"

taa`ir (2/8)
see: naqara

taar al-kabiir(saudi) (4/4)
['"big drum"']

taar al-matwasit(saudi) (4/4)

tabiila(libya) (4/4)

tabl(libya) (4/8)

tadariij(libya) (5/4=2+3)

takhtiim(saudi) (3/4)

tamalkiit(libya) (4/8)

taras (12/4=3+3+4+2)

thaqiil (96/4)

=4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4

thaqiil al-awwal (16/8=3+3+4+2+4)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr; also RisAla al-sharafiyya ']

al-aSl (the basis)

al-aSl (the basis)

thaqiil al-ramal (20/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr']

=1+1+0+0+0+0+0+0+1

al-aSl

=1+1+0+0+0+0+0+0+1

thaqiil al-thaaanii (8/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr']

thaqiil al-thaaanii (16/8)
['13th c. : SafI al-DIn; KitAb al-adwAr; also RisAla al-sharafiyya ']

=0+0+0+0+0+0

al-aSl (the basis)

thurayya (5/8)
see: `araj at-turkii

triti puti(balkans) (2/4)

tsamiko(greek) (6/8)
['the Greek national hymn goes to this rhythm; slow-quick-quick']

4+2

3+3 variation from Epirus

arab-ish version

tuq al-musaddar(tunisia) (6/8)

tuq(tunisia) (3/4)

turk as-samaa`ii as-sarii` (3/8)

turk assamaa`ii (3/4)
see: yuruk as-samaa`ii

turk zarb(syria) (29/4)

=4+4+4+2+4+3+4+4

turkish 5 (5/4)

turrah (21/4)

=3+2+3+2+4+2+3+2

=3+2+3+2+4+2+3+2

=3+2+3+2+4+2+3+2

unnamed 14 (14/4)
['Souhail Kaspar']

unnamed greek 7 (7/8)
['?']

uyuun hawaasiiyy (11/4=2+2+3+4)

vals (3/4)
see: yuruk as-samaa`ii

vox(egypt) (2/4)
['modern Egyptian classical rhythm (ala Mohammed Abdel Wahab) probably west-influenced; could vox == fox == foxtrot??']

w'alb`ad yasmiiya haawii (128/4)
see: haawii

waahed w' al-`ashriin(syria) (21/4=12+9=4+4+4+4+2+3)
['nIm warash+nIm rawAn']

waahid al-maqsuum(kuwait) (4/4)
see: duuyek

waahid al-maqsuuma(kuwait) (4/4)
see: duuyek

waahida (4/8)

waahida khafiif (4/4)

waahida sayyaara (4/4)

waahida(kuwait/iraq) (4/4)

wahd al-makalafa (4/8)

wahd' al-basiita (2/4)

wahd' al-kabiira (4/4)

wahd' al-maqsuuma(kuwait) (4/4)

wahd' al-maqsuuma(kuwait) (4/4)

wahd' al-matusta (4/4)

wahd' as-saa'iira (2/4)
see: waHd' al-basiiTa

wahd' as-saghiira(tunisia) (2/4)

wahd' at-tawiila(iraq) (8/8)

wahda al-shamiin(lebanon) (2/4)
see: baruel

wahraani (8/8=3+2+3)
['Beduin']

walking masmuudii (8/4=4+4)

warash(syria) (26/4)

=2+4+3+2+3+4+2+2+4

=2+4+3+2+3+4+2+2+4

warshaan al-`arabii (32/4)

=4+2+4+2+3+3+2+4+3+3+2

Egypt

=4+2+4+2+4+4+4+4+4

yamani? (8/8)
['accompanies end of sawt poem']

yugrig? (12/8)
['accompaniment for maqam jabburi']

spacey variation

spacey variation

spacey variation

yukruk al-`iraaqii(iraq) (12/4)

yukruk(egypt) (12/4)

yuruk (3/4)
see: daarij

yuruk as-samaa`ii (3/4)

yuruuk samaa`ii (6/8=3+3)
['Turkish origins']

zaffah (4/4)
['Egyptian wedding processional']

Hossam Ramzy

zaqaayarii(libya) (12/4=3+3+6)

zar (3/4)

zar(egypt) (4/8)
see: ayyuub(Egypt)

zaraafaat (13/8=3+3+4+3)

Souhail Kaspar

zarfakand (11/4=2+2+3+2+2)

zendalii (6/8)

zenkov(russia/central asia) (21/8=9+7+5=2+2+2+3+2+2+3+2+3)

zeybek(greek) (9/4)
see: zeymbekiko(Greek)

zeybekiko(greek) (9/4)
see: zeymbekiko(Greek)

zeymbekiko(greek) (9/4)

zinjiir at-turkii (120/4=16+20+24+28+32)
['jiftah duyuk turkI+fAHta+shanbar turkI+dawr kabIr+barifshAn turkI']

Syria

zonaradikos(greece) (6/8)