Rhythm · 2/4
Khaleeji
Also known as: Khaliji, Saudi
dum tak rest
Time signature: commonly taught as 2/4.
Origin
Arabian Gulf
Where you hear it
One 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.
Dance
Styles danced to it
- Khaleeji
- Raqs Khaliji
- Saudi dance presentations
- Gulf-inspired Oriental