General
The darbuka is one of the most popular and most common percussion instruments in Middle-Eastern music. Like the much more familiar djembe, it is part of the goblet drum family, as is readily apparent from its shape. However, the similarities end there, as the darbuka does not sound anything like a djembe, and it's made of entirely different materials - they're distant cousins at the most.
Meinl HE-103 7.25 x 13.3-inch Aluminium Darbuka
This darbuka is made of aluminium and features a synthetic drumhead with a 7.25-inch diameter. The shell is 13.3 inches deep. Besides the sharp 'tak' accents you produce when you strike the head near the edge, you can also produce a deep 'doom' by striking the centre of the head. Partly thanks to its reasonable price, the HE-103 darbuka is a great addition to your percussion setup, and a great introduction to the world of Middle-Eastern percussion.
