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.

[@anonagain]

Geoff - I think I've watched every Darkbuka lesson on KZbin on split hand - you are still the best at explaining and demonstrating techniques that I've found. Hope you post some more videos soon! Thanks!

[@1ico007]

your teaching method is one of the best thanks mate

[@likepiano]

great video geoff, thanks!

[@msticdrumr]

Sweet tutorial!

[@LasLaboresdeLis]

A lot of thanks! Excellent exercises

[@txqi]

Awesome lesson, thanks!

[@omara8008]

Greetings from Egypt 😎👍

[@ferhatdemir7912]

4 yıl önce

[@daor9]

Excellent lesson, but I would preffer a more profound Dum sound, I think it was becouse you were sitted on a couch and it absorbed the sound. Thanks!

[@fatmaatma5280]

The font in ur text on thumbnail is in Hindi style not Arab style. Just telling In case you think it's the same thing.

[@geoffchilders]

That's interesting; the font is called "Arabian one-night-stand."

[@fatmaatma5280]

Geoff Childers in Hindi the line goes through the top of the text but not Arabic. I think whoever made it was confused. As it has pesh and zabar in it too. Anyways great job u are very talented and good tutor

[@D.2023]

03:58 but relaxing the fingers to "limp" condition makes all neighbour fingers to strike the drum as well *(they also get limp - and gravity and inertia makes them to strike the drum)... When i try to strike Ka with the limp ring finger - my limp middle finger lands a strike too. Same problem with the index, my my middle finger also lands and produce a double strike. How do you isolate the ring and index fingers from the rest of hand? Selective "limping" keeping middle finger stiff "at demand"? I dont get it, I can relax all the fingers at the same time - or none.

[@geoffchilders]

You want to keep your middle finger fairly straight. It should be straight enough to avoid hitting the drum but still relaxed.

[@chestermcgoo7462]

I thought the double ka is actually using the rebound of the ring finger to make two hits out of it with a single motion of the wrist.

[@geoffchilders]

Some players do it that way. I believe that's how Raquy does it.

[@hamodimadness3590]

We arabs do lt only with ring finger

[@Jsala77]

you know how to teach respect from a morrocan try to learn and teach the north african styles 6/8 for example

[@user-rd3lz4ty5r]

You should explain and SHOW in slow motion with what fingers you play