Daf
Daf (Persian: دف), also known as dâyere and riq, is a Middle Eastern (mainly Iranian) frame drum musical instrument, used in popular and classical music in South and Central Asia. It is also used in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, many regions of Georgia, Pakistan as well as in parts of India and Russian polar regions. It is also popular among Balkans, Bukharan Jews, Caucasians, Kurds, and Macedonians.
| Percussion | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Dafli, dap, def, tef, defi, gaval, duf, duff, dof |
| Classification | Directly struck membranophones |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 211.311 (Handle-less frame drum with one usable membrane) |
| Playing range | |
| High sound of jingles, plus some have a skin with a lower sound | |
| Related instruments | |
| Buben, tambourine, kanjira, frame drum, parai | |
Daf is the national musical instrument of Pakistan and is also depicted on the reverse and obverse of the Azerbaijani 1 qəpik coin and 1 manat banknote respectively, since 2006.
It traditionally has a round wooden frame (although in the modern era it may also be made of metal), jingles, and a thin, translucent head made of fish or goat skin (or, more recently, a synthetic material). The sound is produced by hitting the membrane with either hand – the left hand, which also holds the daf, strikes the edges, and the right hand strikes the center. The right-hand fingers are fastened about their neighbours and suddenly released (like the action of finger-snapping) to produce loud, rapid, sharp sounds.