Darbuka Split-hand Lesson: The Double-ka (Intermediate)

This darbuka lesson shows how to do the Turkish split-hand double-ka, using the pointer and ring fingers on the left hand. It’s intended for players who are already comfortable with basic Arabic doumbek technique and looking to expand their bag of tricks.

The double-ka is a surprisingly versatile tool and great way to add excitement to your playing. It can take years to master, so don't be discouraged when you don't get it right away. Once you've got it down, it can be done with almost no effort and becomes an easy way to play quick fills.

The double-ka also lets the left hand to take over some of the work usually done by the right hand, allowing the right to play basic rhythms while the left handles all the embellishment.

You might be surprised how much having this technique in your repertoire will amplify your creativity and the fun-factor of the darbuka. Your sense of rhythm, your creativity, and your muscle memory are all neurologically inter-related, so when you add a new go-to technique, rhythmic ideas that never would have occurred to you just emerge naturally.