From the shores of Alexandria to the deepest depths of the Nubian desert. The one instrument that has carried on tradition for thousands of years and have kept it's invitation and leadership throughout the genres of Egyptian music, whether it be folk, roots revival, coptic, saidi (upper Egyptian), Nubian or even Western influenced pop music. The 'darbuka' or as commonly known in Egypt as the 'tabla', is a goblet drum with a thin, responsive and resonance drumhead which produces a distinctively crisp sound. By traditional standards, these drums are made from clay, metal or wood. But since modern technology has introduced itself in the music industry, you will commonly find drums made from synthetic materials, including fiberglass. Modern metal drums are commonly made of aluminum (either cast, spun, or formed from a sheet) or copper. Some aluminum drums may have a mother-of-pearl inlay, which is purely decorative. Traditional drum heads were animal skin, commonly goat and also fish. Modern drums commonly use synthetic materials for drum heads, including mylar and fiberglass.
