Professional Tunable Riq Natural Frame (d. 23 cm)

Description

The Professional Tunable Riq is a concert-size Arabic tambourine: a 23 cm frame of natural plane tree wood, 5.5 cm deep, ringed with ten pairs of hand-hammered brass jingles and fitted with a tunable head. It comes with a gig bag.

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 a single player can carry a complete rhythmic cycle: the low dum and sharp tek on the head, the running shimmer on the cymbals. Concert riqs generally measure 22–25 cm across and 5–7 cm deep and carry ten pairs of jingles; this instrument follows those proportions.

Frame, Jingles and Tuning

The frame is made of plane tree wood left in its natural finish, so the fine, flecked grain stays visible. Ten slots are cut around the shell, grouped in five positions, and each slot holds one pair of hammered brass cymbals — twenty discs in all. The hand-hammered surface and the spacing of the ten pairs give the layered, multi-frequency shimmer that sets a riq apart from an ordinary tambourine.

A gold-toned metal ring sits over the head, and the head tension can be adjusted. That matters on stage: heat and humidity change the pitch of any frame drum, and 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.

Playing and Repertoire

At 23 cm, the riq 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. 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.

Specifications

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. 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.