 |
 Advice on buying a riq |
| Updated: Jan 13, 2003 |
This article is part of Kamuran's Guide for Doumbek Players.
A drummer in the SCA named Angus gave me permission to post his message here from the SCA-Drummers mailing group. I am not the author.
Below that, a recommended source for learning how to play the riq.
A riq is an Egyptian tambourine, usually with an inlaid wood frame around 8 to 9 inches in diameter,
with 5 sets of brass jingles in two rows around the frame. The head is traditionally fish, although
you can find them with goat or with synthetic heads.
The jingles are one of the most important things to look for in a good riq since much of the playing on the riq is done on the jingles themselves. They need to be thick enough to give a good sound, the slots cut in the frame where they sit can't be too tight, or too loose or they will not swing properly.
The head should be quite tight, and therein lies one of the problems with fishskin, as even more than other types of skin it is subject to the vagaries of humidity.
Professional riq players playing fishskin riqs will always have two instruments, with one warming on a heating pad while the other is played and then switching between songs. Some beautiful inlaid riqs with tuneable synthetic heads are now being produced in Egypt, but it is very hard to find them here in the states.
As far as finding a professional quality riq in the US, there's the rub. It is one of the more difficult instruments to find here. At least to find good ones. Crummy riqs abound, and price is no indicator. I have seen cheap, crappy riqs with crumbling inlay and jingles almost no thicker than tinfoil for $20 and in other places the same basic crappy riq for $100.
Finding a good riq is very hit and miss. First, you need to find out what to look for in a good riq, so you can recognize it when you find it, and just keep looking around til you find one. The best riqs I have seen in the US were owned by people who purchased them in Cairo, and paid between $100 and $200 US even over there. Virtually all the riqs exported to the States are cheap toys, as there really isn't enough of a market to support the trade of exquisitely crafted, professional quality riqs. No offense to Mid-East Mfg. Inc., but their riqs are junk.
That said, if you can't find a good one right away, there are options for getting something decent to learn on while you search (and it could take years). The Layne Redmond Signature Riq, and the Glen Velez Signature Riq from REMO, Inc, have pretty decent jingles, and they have fixed synthetic heads which are not too bad sounding and have the added benefit of being impervious to humidity, which makes them great for camping events.
The riq is a beautiful, exotic instrument with a very unique sound. Beware, however, as they can be addictive. I own 8 of them and am always on the prowl for more! Does anybody know of a 12 step program for this? ;-)
Happy Hunting,
Angus
Kamuran says...
When you visit the Web site for Remo, use the Site Search feature. Under Product Search, set Category to "World Percussion" and type "riq" for the Keyword.
Layne Redmond made a video tape with the Mob of Angels on playing the riq and tambourine. The title is "A Sense of Time" (original title: "Ritual Drumming"). She goes over different strikes and tones, practice techniques, some symbolism, and the ancient history of the frame drum. This is recommended viewing. You can order videos, CDs, cassettes, and instruments from her Web site - as well as read articles and listen to sound clips.
Your feedback is most welcome!
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