A Tonbak is a goblet drum from Persia. It is considered the chief drum of Persian music.

Construction

The tonbak has five parts:

• Skin
• Body
• Throat
• Small Opening
• Large Opening

The skin is usually glued to the body. Goat or lamb skin is the most popular material for the skin. The body of a Tonbak is made of mulberry wood which gives it its distinctive sound. The body may be decorated with carved furrows. The throat is almost cylindrical and it is connected from top to the body. The In fact the throat and small opening together are in the form of a trumpet. The large opening is in the top and is covered by the skin

Culture

Goblet-shaped drums are played in different regions of Asia, East Europe and Africa. Although there are some similarities among all goblet drums, the techniques for playing the tonbak is different from most other goblet drums of the world. The finger patterns and techniques of the tonbak drum are very similar to the zirbaghali (the Afghani goblet drum). The Tonbak is often also referred to as Tombak, Dombak, Donbak & Zarb.

External Links

• http://www.rhythmweb.com/tonbak/
• http://www.persianradio.net/saz/tonbak.html