Arabic musical instruments

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.

Drawing of Qanun player in 1859, Jerusalem

Traditional flute player from Iraqi folk troupe

Mizwad, a type of bagpipes played mostly in Tunisia and Libya

Mizmar ini Display

the Riqq is one of the instruments used only in the Egyptian and Arabic music, and in most of its varieties

Sagat in Khan El-Khalili, Cairo

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)