Arabic musical instruments are instruments developed and mainly used by people from the Arab world. Usage of these instruments, often more than a thousand years old, were once limited to the region's traditional and contemporary music, but today they are commonly used in world music and popular music from all around the world. Like most instruments they are broadly classified into three categories, string instruments (chordophones), wind instruments (aerophones), and percussion instruments.
Chordophones
Plucked lutes Oud Qanbūs Buzuq Awtar Lutar Sintir
Zithers Qanun Iraqi Santur
Bowed lutes Jawzah Guembri Kamancheh Rebab Pontic lyra (Kemençe)
Lyres Simsimiyya Kissar Tanbūra Jewish Lyre
Aerophones
Flutes Ney Kawalah Salamiyah Minjayrah Shababah Shakuli Furayrah Kasab
Reed instruments Mizmar Khalul (Gulfian Mizmar) Rhaita Arghul Zumarah bi suwan Maqrunah Mijwiz Haban (Gulfian Bagpipe) Jirbah (East Tunisian Bagpipe) Mizwad (West Tunisian Bagpipe) Zughra (Moroccan Bagpipe) Saksifun (Arabic Saxophone)
Trumpets Nafir
Percussion instruments Drums and frame drums
Riq Daf Bendir Dumbaki (Darbuka) Duhulah Drinjah Bass Drinjah Khishbah Kasurah Tabl Tsjikangha Tabl Masanduw Tabl Bib Taarija Tar Tar Barashim (Shake Tar) Tar Mirjaf (Low Tar) Tar Saghul (High Tar) Katim Mirwas Zir (Naqarah) Qas'ah Tbilat Tabl Bahri (Khamari & Laauwb) Tabl Hajir (Khamari & Laauwb) Tabl Nasayfi (Khamari & Laauwb) Al Ras Mazhar
Other percussion Shakhshikhah (Sistrum) Sajat Turah (Egyptian Sajat) Twaysat (Gulf Sajat) Krakeb Hawan (instrument) Yahalah/Jahalah (Clay jug) Manjur Mihbaj Maalaqa Safqa (Arabic hand clap)
References