Customer Reviews

Doumbek Technique and Rhythms for Arabic Percussion, Bellydance, and Drum Circles

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Have you been itching to get drumming with a dumbek? Amir will get you going with everything you need to know to get started! The DVD is divided into convenient sections covering a welcome/introduction, rhythms, practices, and demo. You learn about the dumbek, how to hold the instrument comfortably and how to perform your first few beats. Then you can proceed with the practice drills or go on to learn to play AND recognize the popular and common Arabic rhythms. The beat is counted out for you clearly on the screen, and verbally without being annoying. Amir is a fantastic host and instructor, offering friendly and encouraging advice throughout the instruction.

I love how easy the format is to follow, you can go all at your own speed and pace, and navigate through the different sections and lessons by a simple click of your remote thanks to the convenient index of the lessons. Repeat a section as many times as you need or jump ahead to something more advanced...you won't be bored! The quality of the screen and sound is excellent, this isn't a shoddy homemade instructional DVD!

I'd like to note that Middle Eastern Dancers/Belly Dancers will also find this DVD a great resource even if you don't plan on learning to drum. You can gain a great familiarity with the instrument and to instantly recognize the various Arabic rhythms by sound and name. It will really enhance your dance experience. I've found it invaluable for increasing my understanding of the music and rhythms I dance to. After watching, you just might want to give drumming a try!

This DVD brings the beauty of the Dumbek and Arabic rhythms right to the comfort and convenience of your own home. With some time and practice, you'll be comfortably drumming in no time at all, even if you've had no prior experience. Those with percussion experience will appreciate the clear review of fundamentals and while learning some fun and exciting new rhythms. It really couldn't be easier to get started with the Dumbek than with this affordable DVD.

Amir is an amazing professional musician and instructor, you will want to follow along as he breaks down basic doumbek technique and patterns. As a serious dancer I am left with better knowledge and understanding of Arabic percussion- essential in designing my drum solos, taxim sections of dance. Anyone at any dance level can benefit from so much knowledge deposited right into your lap.Fundamentals of doumbek are simply broken down, complete with exercises and different patterns that you can use to follow along.Doum, tek, ka, pop, slap 5 -different sounds created from the tabla just by learning which area of the drum to strike. Anatomy of the drum, how the hold the drum, also combinations of these 5 sounds that create the nine Arabic percussion combinations, masmoudi,ayoub, baladi,saiidi, malfouf,maksoum,soumbati,ciftetelli, and some variations. Amir and Aziz combine the drum and tambourine,riq, for a beautiful demonstration of patterns. A very valuable tool for learning and reference to drumming in bellydance. The quality of this dvd is great, color is vivid, overall an exceptional, purchase more than worth its price.

My overall impression of this DVD is that Amir is quite knowledgeable about the doumbek. I found it interesting that he presented the different types of doumbeks together with a brief history. Some of the editing is choppy, especially as he is explaining technique. I think he could have also spent more time going in depth into technique. But when he goes into showing rhythms the editing is constant and the variations are quite interesting.

This DVD is a very good choice for beginners and it also serves as good reference material for intermediate percussionists like myself.

The instructor is very clear and his technique is superb. The video starts with simple but important exercises that get more and more complex. All main Arab rhythms are covered and there are some nice demonstrations of what they sound like in a performance.

The one thing that is missing is an actual performance, where the viewer could see the different rhythms in a whole song, as well as have a taste of more advanced techniques, which are not addressed in this DVD.

If you want to start to learn how to play the doumbek or want to improve your basic technique this video is a must. It's probably useful for bellydancers and other musicians wanting to get familiarized with Arab rhythms.

Hope it helps.

I have been playing drums, congas and Djembe for about ten years now. Most of what I've learned has been self taught,(books, tapes, videos and DVDs) after some basic classes. I have also played with an African drum and dance group for 8 years. This DVD is an excellent product for the beginning Doumbek player(which I am). Starts with the basics:How to hold the drum, how to get the various sounds from the drum correctly. There are many practice rhythms that directly apply to the other classic rhythms that are demonstrated later on. The notation is clearly explained and it is easy to follow along with the DVD. Amir Naoum starts with the basics of the rhythms and elaborates on them as each lesson progress's. Amir's presentation is geared for the new doumbek drummer and he appears to have a gentle sense of humor.

This is exactly what I needed but couldn't find elsewhere (online, etc). Amir has a relaxed gentle and encouraging manner, clearly enjoys the doumbek and wants to share his art. There is no fluff here, just nice visual of Amir nicely dressed sitting in a studio with colorful silk drapes & and a window behind him, & he gets right down to teaching after a brief self-introduction. His explanations are clear, the notations accompany the verbal and visual instruction, and his rhythms are slow enough to follow easily before he picks up the pace. He has a nice demonstration of different types and sounds of doumbeks available--he goes over 3 clay/ceramic types & both fish skin & synthetic/plastic. There are 9 drills for finger placement & technique, as well as for the basic arabic rhythms, with demonstrations as well that you can follow along with. A side benefit is that he plays with someone who is playing a riq (arabic tamborine) alongside him, which is almost a 2 for 1 because you can see how you would accompany a doumbek with a riq for each rhythm. Perfect!

Fantastic material. Techniques are presented very didactically with rhythm notation on screen. Very useful for the beginner drummer.

For anybody who wants to learn the techniques and rhythms of the tabla, I highly recommend you purchase this instructional DVD. He takes you step by step on which finger(s) to use and he will do it repeatidly and slowly so that way you can understand it and play along with him. There's alot more in there that he teaches, just take a look at it. By next year, I'll be a pro or close to it. Thanks alot for the DVD, its really helpful.

This is a good DVD. Worth the money. However, while most of the instruction is clear, as I beginner, I felt there is not enough practice time for each rhythm and variation. For me its not enough to hear a few measures of variation. I need a couple of minutes of uninterrupted playing that I can follow on my drum until I get my sound to match. He also fails to explain the traditional notation. There is no discussion of rests or accents. You have to fill this in for yourself

His treatment of the Ayub, probably the easiest rhythm, and the second one that he introduces, covers the fundamental rhythm and then immediately moves on to a syncopated version for which he gives no notation or further explanation. Someone who already knows how to drum might be able to follow whats going on but I had no clue! Ive listend to that piece about 10 times and I still feel I am only guessing. Encountering this kind of stumbling block early in the course is discouraging.

This is a good reference disk since it covers all the main rhythms and explains clearly how to vary and embelish them but I feel its not suitable for a beginner starting from zero

I have owned my doumbek about 4 months. I've worked pretty hard at it from material off the internet (which I really appreciate), from a drum circle of peers, and from group drumming at parties. I just got into a quartet: guitar, mandolin, fiddle, & doumbek. Although many of my peers have more experience than I do, there is only one whom I would consider to be a 'good' drummer. The others I am surpassing, because I understand better than they do and because I work harder than they do. The implication is: I've got to keep at it!

I am also a decent amateur musician. I have an ear for sounds, timing, and style. It comes with experience.

This DVD is incredible! The Master is a master! He is very personable. I felt I was in private audience. However, I can imagine some finding disappointment. Why? Because this is mostly like a single lesson, a master class. Thus my title. If you buy this DVD you are buying a lesson, a wonderful lesson. Things are taught that are easy. Things are demonstrated that are challenging. Most of all, you get to meet the Master and hear what he has to say! And because I have it on DVD, I can relive it on demand!

Here's what I got from the DVD:

First, the exercises. They get me warmed up; practiced in patterns I need to know; and improve my rhythm, tone, and speed.

Second, the rhythms of basic reportoire and variation.

Third, the clincher: I learned the weaknesses of the path I was following. I learned a 'philosophy' of doumbek. This is what is amazing for a Master to accomplish without hearing me.

This DVD stresses the importance of the left hand and exercises it. It seems designed with awareness of the weaknesses of my experience. Why? My experiences were based on a fairly broad research of middle eastern drumming. I was following a common path. I was neglecting 'tek'. Sometimes I would drum left-handed, just to give the left hand something to do and give the right hand a break.

'Core rhythm' is emphasized. This, I was finding on my own. However, my peers don't seem to grasp it. They seemed to be mechanical, menu-driven. Without a sense of core, you cannot improvise effectively. You have got to know where you are coming from so you can get back to it.

My drumming is now better and will grow better yet. Mission accomplished!

I hope all others can glean from this DVD what I have. See you in the circle!