Instrument · Strings
Electric Bass
باص كهربائي
A low-pitched amplified string instrument that provides bass lines beneath percussion and melody.
United States; widely adopted in modern Arabic music
Origin
Developed from the modern electric-guitar family in the United States in the mid-20th century, the electric bass entered Arabic popular and dance arrangements as modern ensembles adopted amplified Western instruments.
Role in the dance
Modern Arabic pop, shaabi, mahraganat-influenced dance music and contemporary Raqs Sharqi arrangements often depend heavily on electric or synthesized bass. For dancers it creates the low-frequency pulse that reinforces grounded hips and contemporary accents.
Music
Rhythms it plays
Maqsum
4/4Probably the single most important rhythmic cycle for an oriental dancer. It appears in Egyptian popular music, classical compositions, baladi music, shaabi and modern Arabic pop, and frequently serves as the neutral rhythmic foundation to which other rhythms return. MaqamWorld describes it as the most widely used iqa‘ in Arabic music.
Baladi
4/4Heavy, grounded rhythm strongly associated with Egyptian baladi music and baladi progressions. The doubled opening dum creates a heavier feeling than Maqsum. “Baladi” is also a much broader cultural and musical term, while this specific rhythmic skeleton is more precisely called Masmoudi Saghir.
Sa‘idi
4/4Strong, earthy and energetic rhythm associated with Upper Egyptian music. The central dum accents give it its characteristic grounded and slightly “bouncing” feel. Closely associated with tahtib and staged cane dancing.
Malfuf
2/4A fast, rolling rhythm often heard at the beginning or end of an oriental routine. Excellent for travelling steps, entrances, exits, veil entrances and fast transitions. Its accent structure has a characteristic 3+3+2 feeling.
Khaleeji
2/4One of the best-known Gulf rhythmic feels. Its recognizable 3+3+2 subdivision creates the swaying, rolling character strongly associated with Gulf music. Authentic Gulf percussion can be layered across several drums, so a single-darbuka transcription is necessarily simplified.