Yshai Afterman · Online Course

The Complete Darbuka Course

"Crackling fire, her dance — amaranth."

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Red darbuka drum
The Complete Curriculum

3 pillars. 10 levels.
One musician.

The darbuka is one of the most expressive and technically demanding drums in the Middle Eastern tradition — and one of the least taught with any real depth. What you are looking at is the most comprehensive darbuka curriculum ever built: ten levels, twenty stages, and a systematic method that develops every dimension of the instrument in parallel — stroke technique, speed, ornamentation, positional vocabulary, foot bell independence, and compositional thinking — from first grip to full mastery.

Nothing is invented on the fly. Nothing is isolated. Every technique enters the traditional repertoire from the moment it is learned. The building block system means you always know what you're playing and why — and you compose from the very first stage.

10Levels
20Stages
20Compositions
∞Yours forever

The 10-Level Journey

I
Level I

Foundations

— lessons1 composition

Everything begins here. Positioning, the first strokes, and the building block system that runs through the entire course — applied immediately to real traditional rhythms.

A. Basic positioning & strokes B. The 4 building blocks of groove C. Numbers 2–3–4: first building blocks D. Traditional rhythms — building blocks applied E. Traditional rhythms playlist F. How to practice ♩ Composition I
II
Level II

Traditional Rhythms Begin

— lessons1 composition

First traditional rhythms: maqsum and malfuf. Subdivision, phrasing, and musical context introduced alongside technique development.

Maqsum Malfuf Rhythmic scale Tey pyramid phrase ♩ Composition II
III
Level III

Speed & Ornamentation

— lessons1 composition

Increasing speed, first ornaments, and developing endurance. The full maqsum and malfuf vocabulary begins to open up.

Ornament system Speed development ♩ Composition III
IV
Level IV

Split Hand, Independence & Rhythmic Orientation

— lessons1 composition

Split hand deepens with 16th-note number orchestration and a full pyramid phrase. Hand independence enters with left-hand malfuf across all traditional rhythms. Rhythmic orientation — starting short phrases from different beats and landing on the 1 — develops musical flexibility.

Foot bell next step Numbers to split hand — 2 groups Hands independence — 8th notes Dtiketi — 16th note orchestration Rhythmic orientation Split hand pyramid phrase ♩ Composition IV
V
Level V

Muted Ka in Context, Odd Time Independence & The Flow

— lessons2 compositions

The muted Ka deepens into the numbers system and 2-group vocabulary. Hand independence extends into odd time feels and Malfuf-as-4 with 15 variations. The split hand pyramid phrase enters Laz. A new technique — The Flow — appears at the close of the level.

Muted Ka — numbers Independence — odd time Full 16th splits + orchestration Pyramid phrase in Laz The Flow ✦ new ♩ Composition V
VI
Level VI

Muted Ka as Opening Voice, Independence & The Double Stroke Roll

— lessons1 composition

The muted Ka becomes a leading voice — opening phrases rather than ornament. Independence deepens with 2-bar left-hand mixing sequences and Malfuf-as-2-groups. The Flow merges with the numbers system. A brand-new technique — the double stroke roll — appears at the close of the level.

Muted Ka — starting voice Independence — mixing challenge (Pa & Ka) Laz + muted Ka variations Malfuf independence — 2 groups of 4 The Flow + numbers Double stroke roll ✦ new ♩ Composition VI
VII
Level VII

Double Stroke Roll Develops, Muted Ka Transforms & The Flow Expands

— lessons1 composition

Every Tak becomes a muted Ka — the full traditional rhythm vocabulary is transformed. The double stroke roll enters the numbers system. Independence deepens with 2-bar mixed sequences. The Flow merges with orchestrated split hand variations.

Traditional rhythms — every Tak = muted Ka Independence — 2-bar mixed sequences Double stroke roll — numbers hand to hand The Flow + split hand variations Muted split hands ongoing numbers ♩ Composition VII
VIII
Level VIII

Ghost Notes Crystallise, 12/8 Independence & Karachi Muted

— lessons2 compositions

Traditional rhythms are now played twice — once normal, once with muted Taks — forcing full command of ghost notes and musical flow. 12/8 independence arrives divided into 4 groups of 3 with permutations. The double stroke roll gains a complete numbers vocabulary with strong-hand accents. In Stage 2, traditional rhythms move into 16th notes with all Taks muted. Flows expand to 5-7-8 with ghosted numbers and orchestrated split hands. Karachi enters with muted Ka variations.

Foot bell — Stage 1 & 2 steps Traditional rhythms — normal + muted Tak (ghost control) Independence — 12/8 in 4 groups of 3, permutations Double stroke roll — numbers, all accents strong hand Traditional rhythms in 8th notes — ghosts via double stroke roll Traditional rhythms in 16th notes — all Taks muted Flows 5-7-8 + numbers (ghosts) + orchestrated split hands Karachi — muted Ka + bonus variations ♩ Composition VIII-A & VIII-B
IX
Level IX

Triplets — A New Rhythmic World

Foot bell — next step Independence — permutations of 3 over Malfuf Numbers to triplets Traditional rhythms ending with triplets The Flow — fully muted, descending in tone Fingernail snap ✦ new Independence — permutations of 3 over Malfuf (Stage 2) Numbers to triplets — 2 groups Muted triplets on centre of drum ✦ new sound Traditionals — every ghost note is a triplet Basic phrasing over Laz — ghosts + triplet Muted triplets — traditionals ending with muted triplets Double splits triplets ✦ new technique ♩ Composition IX
X
Level X

Triplets in Full Command

Foot bell — next step Independence — permutations of 3 over Laz Normal triplets to muted triplets — basic numbers Split hand + triplets stamina exercise Laz in 16th notes + doubled groups + triplets Traditional rhythms — full triplets Double split triplets — numbers with orchestrations Independence — permutations of 4 over Laz Normal to muted triplets — numbers 2 groups Double splits to triplets — numbers 2 groups Double splits triplets — numbers 2 groups Double split triplets — traditional rhythms Split hand to double split triplets stamina exercise ♩ Composition X
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