Anyone who listens to Turkish and Balkan music eventually feels their foot "trip": in some rhythms the beats are not evenly spaced. These are called aksak rhythms (aksak means "limping" in Turkish). Many rhythms are aksak, from the Roman havası that no wedding is complete without to the horon of the Black Sea. In this article we explain the most often played rhythms by their beat groups.
What is an aksak rhythm?
In even rhythms (2/4, 4/4) the bar is divided into equal beats. In aksak rhythms the bar is made of a mix of groups of two and three. A 9/8 bar, for example, is counted 2+2+2+3: the last group is one pulse longer, which gives the rhythm its familiar "limp".
The easiest way to count is to accent the first pulse of each group:
9/8 (2+2+2+3): ONE-two ONE-two ONE-two ONE-two-three
The best-loved wedding rhythms
| Rhythm | Meter | Grouping |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Havası | 9/8 | 2+2+2+3 |
| Karşılama | 9/8 | 2+2+2+3 |
| Horon | 7/8 | 2+2+3 |
| Rumeli | 7/8 | 3+2+2 |
| Zeybek | 9/4 | slow, aksak |
| Halay (Delilo) | 2/4 | even, drum-driven |
| Çiftetelli | 4/4 | even, with finger cymbals |
| Kasap Havası | 2/4 | even, fast |
Even two rhythms in the same meter sound completely different because their grouping and accents differ. The 7/8 Horon and Rumeli are the best example.
Basic strokes on the darbuka
The darbuka has three basic sounds:
- Düm: the deep sound struck in the centre of the head
- Tek: the high sound struck at the rim
- Ka: the high sound struck at the rim with the other hand
Rhythm patterns are sequences of these three sounds. Memorising a rhythm by first saying it slowly as "düm-tek-ka" makes learning it on the instrument much faster.
How to practise aksak rhythms
- Start slowly: count the grouping out loud. Speed comes only once the counting feels natural.
- Exaggerate the accent: play the first pulse of each group clearly.
- Practise with accompaniment: a plain metronome click can be confusing in an aksak rhythm. Hearing the rhythm itself is far more instructive.
- Raise the tempo gradually: reach the target tempo over a few days, in small steps.
A free wedding drum machine: Nova Rhythm
Nova Rhythm is a free drum machine that runs in the browser. Darbuka, davul, frame drum, hand claps and finger cymbals play together, all from real instrument recordings.
- 12 wedding rhythms: Roman havası, Karşılama, Halay, Çiftetelli, Horon, Rumeli, Zeybek and more
- Normal and Lively sections, a fill and an ending hit
- Volume and mute per instrument
- Tempo slider, TAP tempo and a speed trainer
- Pulse dots that show the aksak groups
It is ideal for practising along with your own instrument.
Frequently asked questions
Can I count 9/8 as 3+3+3? No; 3+3+3 is not aksak but an evenly grouped 9/8, and it sounds different. Roman havası and Karşılama are grouped 2+2+2+3.
Does the drum machine work offline? Once Nova Rhythm is added to your home screen, it works offline too.
