Like all hand drums, the most important part of playing the doumbek is rhythm, but what makes this goblet drum different from most other hand drums is that it is played less with the hand and more with the fingertips, allowing for more intricate rhythms and a wider range of sounds.

What we have here is an entertaining performance of the the doumbek that is as comical as it is masterful. After watching the video, Click Here to check out another unique percussion instrument.

Perhaps the most important instrument to Middle Eastern music is the oud. Predecessor of the western lute, the oud is characterized by its lack of frets, allowing for sounds similar to both the fretless Japanese shamisen and the fretted western lute.

Of course the sound of the oud is truly unique to itself, and drawing any further comparisons would be an injustice to the originality of the instrument. In this video of instrumental Arabic music, the oud finds itself center stage with the accompaniment of the guitar, flute, drums and other world instruments. After viewing, Click Here to check out another unique string instrument.