Description
The Professional Tunable Riq Black Frame is a concert-size black riq: an Arabic tambourine for players who want the full sound of a classical riq with a classic black frame. It pairs a 23 cm walnut frame in a black finish with ten pairs of hand-hammered brass jingles and a tunable head, and it comes with a gig bag. Its size, jingle layout and tuning match our other 23 cm concert riqs; what sets it apart is the walnut frame and its black finish.
The riq (also written riqq) is the lead percussion voice of the takht, the classical Arabic ensemble of oud, qanun, violin, ney, riq and darbuka. It is a small, deep frame drum played with the fingers on both the head and the jingles, so one player can carry a complete rhythmic cycle: the low dum and the sharp tek on the head, the running shimmer on the cymbals.
A Black Walnut Frame
The frame is made of walnut, a dense hardwood that keeps its shape under head tension and gives the drum a focused, rounded body to its sound. The shell carries a black finish, a sober look that suits concert dress and sits well beside other instruments in a classical ensemble.
The frame measures 23 cm across and 5.5 cm deep. Concert riqs generally measure 22–25 cm across and 5–7 cm deep and carry ten pairs of jingles; this instrument follows those proportions, so it feels familiar in the hand to anyone who already plays a classical riq.
Brass Jingles and Tunable Head
Ten slots are cut around the shell, grouped in five positions, and each slot holds one pair of hand-hammered brass cymbals — twenty discs in all. The hammered surface and the spacing of the ten pairs give the layered, multi-frequency shimmer that sets a riq apart from an ordinary tambourine.
The head tension can be adjusted. Heat and humidity change the pitch of any frame drum; a tunable riq can be brought back to a crisp, high voice for classical playing, or eased down for a warmer sound, without waiting for the room to change.
Specifications
| Instrument | Riq (Arabic tambourine) |
|---|---|
| Frame | Walnut, black finish |
| Diameter | 23 cm |
| Depth | 5.5 cm |
| Jingles | 10 pairs (20 discs) of hand-hammered brass, in 10 slots (5 positions) |
| Tuning | Adjustable head tension |
| Included | Gig bag |
What is included with the Professional Tunable Riq Black Frame
- Professional Tunable Riq Black Frame — tunable riq with walnut frame in a black finish (d. 23 cm)
- Gig bag
Who This Black Riq Is For
This riq suits intermediate and professional players who already know the basic strokes and want a concert-size instrument, as well as teachers and performers who appear on camera or on stage and want an instrument that is easy to pick out. At 23 cm it sits comfortably in one hand for long sets, while the fingers of both hands alternate between strokes on the head and flicks on the jingles.
Playing and Repertoire
It is the natural choice for Arabic and Egyptian classical music, for rhythms such as maqsoum, wahda and malfuf, for belly dance music and for world and fusion ensembles that need a quick, articulate attack.
For the history of the instrument, its regional varieties and what to look for when you buy, read our riq history and buying guide. Explore the riq collection and our wider range of frame drums.
Care & Maintenance
Keep the riq in its gig bag between sessions, away from direct sun, radiators and damp rooms: sudden changes in temperature and humidity affect both the head and the wooden frame. Clean the frame with a soft, dry cloth rather than a damp one. If the drum will be stored for a long time, ease off the head tension and re-tune before you play. Wipe the jingles with a soft, dry cloth so fingerprints do not dull the brass.
Worldwide shipping & 15-day return — reach out if you would like help choosing a riq or tuning it for your ensemble.
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