I've played various instruments over the years, but I fell in love with zarb about two years ago.
The
Tonbak
or zarb is a goblet drum native to Iran. It should be constructed of a single piece of wood or clay, and it's skin is most likely natural (animal). It rests on the player's lap and is played with a series of strikes and finger-snaps.
The main difference between the zarb and all other percussion instruments around the world (except for tabla) is that the Iranian Zarb is classified as ‘digital’ percussion because it is played with the fingers rather than the palm of the hand, therefore is considered melodic and not percussive. It has as many notes as a piano, and can be played like a piano with 10 fingers, as well as the nails and the rings on the fingers. Pictured above is Ostad-e Hossein Tehrani , widely considered the modern father of zarb.
I have never heard an individual drum with such a versatile range of sounds and techniques. It can be played softly and melodic to complement the melody, or take the lead in a complex array of rhythms.
Some amazing zarb players:
David Kuckhermann from Germany
Ostad-e Nasser Farhangfar on tonbak accompanied by Ostad-e Mohammad Reza Lotfi playing tar.
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