Arabic musical instruments explained

Arabic musical instruments can be broadly classified into three categories: string instruments (chordophones), wind instruments (aerophones), and percussion instruments. They evolved from ancient civilizations in the region.

Chordophones

Plucked lutes

• • Oud Qanbūs
• Buzuq
• Awtar
• Lutar
• Sintir

Zithers

• Qanun
• Iraqi Santur

Bowed lutes

• Jawzah
• Ghuanbri
• Kamancheh
• Rababa
• Pontic lyra

Lyres

• Simsimiyya
• Kissar
• Tanbūra
• Jewish Lyre

Aerophones

Flutes

• Ney
• Kawalah
• Salamiyah
• Minjayrah
• Shababah
• Shakuli
• Furayrah
• Kasab

Reed instruments

• Mizmar
• Khalul (Gulfian Mizmar)
  • Ghayta Arghul
• Zumarah bi suwan
• Maqrunah
• Mijwiz
• Haban (Gulfian Bagpipe)
• Jirbah (East Tunisian Bagpipe)
• Mizwad (West Tunisian Bagpipe)
• Zughra (Moroccan Bagpipe)
• Saksifun (Arabic Saxophone)

Trumpets

• Nafir

Percussion instruments

Drums and frame drums

• Riq
• Daf
• Bendir
• Dumbaki
• Duhulah
• Drinjah
• Bass Drinjah
• Khishbah
• Kasurah
• Tabl Tsjikangha
• Tabl Masanduw
• Tabl Bib
• Taarija
• Tar
• Tar Barashim (Shake Tar)
• Tar Mirjaf (Low Tar)
• Tar Saghul (High Tar)
• Katim
• Mirwas
• Zir (Naqarah)
• Qas'ah
• Tbilat
• Tabl Bahri (Khamari & Laauwb)
• Tabl Hajir (Khamari & Laauwb)
• Tabl Nasayfi (Khamari & Laauwb)
• Al Ras
• Mazhar

Other percussion

• Shakhshikhah (Sistrum)
• Sajat
• Turah (Egyptian Sajat)
• Twaysat (Gulf Sajat)
• Krakebs
• Hawan
• Yahalah/Jahalah (Clay jug)
• Manjur
• Mihbaj
• Maalaqa
• Safqa (Arabic hand clap)