Practicing Good Form

Try this to improve your hand position and posture. Periodically come back to this checklist at intervals throughout your practice session.

Sit in front of a mirror.

Visually check your posture in the mirror. Back straight, yet relaxed. Shoulders relaxed.

Visually check your drum. Angled in your lap with the playing surface about 45°. Elbow resting on outside of drum (doumbek). Wrist in line with arm.

Check your “Ka” position. Outside edge of hand rests on the edge of drum. Pad of ring finger on the very edge of the playing surface. Tip of thumb lightly touching first joint on first finger (doumbek).

Check your “Dum” position. Elbow at natural angle. Wrist and arm in straight line, palm extending across face of the drum. Soft part of palm at the rim of the drum.

Check your “TeK” position. Elbow at natural angle. Wrist and arm in straight line. First three fingers slightly splayed on very edge of the playing surface (doumbek).

Play Dums slowly. Check that movement comes mostly from your wrist (doumbek) or rotating forearm (frame drum). Where do you feel or see tension? Thumb, fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder, neck, jaws, diaphragm. Anywhere else? Relax. Belly breathing?

Play Kas slowly. Check that movement is almost entirely isolated to fingers and hand. Pad of ring finger meets the very edge of the playing surface. Where do you feel or see tension? Relax. Belly breathing?

Play Teks slowly. Check that movement is almost entirely isolated to your wrist. Where do you feel or see tension? Relax. Belly breathing?