Instruments
Qanun Explained: How the Arabic Zither Plays Quarter Tones
The qanun is a plucked table zither with brass levers under every string course. See how it is built, how a player changes maqam mid-song, and which recordings to hear first.
Nagm · نغم · melody
Arabic and Dutch music, explained for curious listeners.
Plain-English guides to maqam, the oud and the darbuka, the great Arab voices, and the Dutch folk, organ and dance traditions, with the sources to keep exploring.
Newest guide · No. 30Which Fairuz Songs Were Sampled? Kanye West, Drake, Madonna and More
Fairuz's voice keeps turning up in Western tracks. Here is which of her songs were sampled by Madonna, Kanye West, Macklemore and Drake, what we can confirm, and how to hear the originals.
Two shores, one melody
Start with the tradition you are curious about. Each shelf lists our newest guides first.
Arabic music
Maqam, great voices, Khaliji, Andalusian and modern Arab sounds.
- Which Fairuz Songs Were Sampled? Kanye West, Drake, Madonna and More
- Arab Music Festival Cairo 2026: A Listener's Guide
- The Poem That Became a Song: Arabic Poetry and Musical Tradition
- The Song Before the Uprising: Arabic Protest Music's Long History
- When Maqam Meets Modular: Electronic Arabic Music Today
Dutch music
Folk songs, street organs, Frisian culture and the electronic scene.
Instruments & rhythm
Oud, qanun, ney, darbuka and the Dutch instruments behind the tunes.
- Qanun Explained: How the Arabic Zither Plays Quarter Tones
- How to Play the Oud for Beginners: Tuning, Pick and a First-Week Routine
- How Long Are Umm Kulthum Songs? Why Her Classics Last an Hour
- Fairuz Songs to Start With: A Listening Guide for New Listeners
- Darbuka Rhythms for Beginners: Maqsum, Baladi, Saidi and Malfuf
Try it · rhythm pad
Hear the four rhythms behind Arabic music
Pick a rhythm and press play. Every Arabic rhythm is built from two strokes: dum, the deep note from the centre of the drum, and tak, the crisp note from the rim. Slow it down, count along, then listen for it in a song.
dumtakrest
Maqsum 4/4 The everyday groove of Arabic pop and classical songs. If you learn one rhythm, learn this.
Latest guides
Numbered in the order we published them, like tracks on a record.
Dutch Folk
Sinterklaas Songs: What Dutch Children Sing, and When
Dutch children sing to Sinterklaas at the arrival, at the shoe and on gift evening. Meet the classic songs, who wrote them and how they changed. National arrival: 14 November 2026.
Instruments
How to Play the Oud for Beginners: Tuning, Pick and a First-Week Routine
New to the oud? Learn the common tunings, how to hold the risha, why maqam Rast is the best first scale, and a simple 15-minute routine for your first week.
Music Guides
How Long Are Umm Kulthum Songs? Why Her Classics Last an Hour
Umm Kulthum's best-known songs run about 50 to 60 minutes, and live versions ran longer. Here is why, what to expect, and how to listen for the first time.
Music Guides
Fairuz Songs to Start With: A Listening Guide for New Listeners
New to Fairuz? Start with these five songs, then explore the Rahbani classics, her poetry songs, the jazzier Ziad Rahbani albums and her Christmas hymns.
Instruments
Darbuka Rhythms for Beginners: Maqsum, Baladi, Saidi and Malfuf
Learn the four darbuka rhythms behind most Arabic pop and dance music: maqsum, baladi, saidi and malfuf, with simple counts, the dum and tak strokes and a practice plan.
Instruments
Arabic Musical Instruments: A Beginner's Guide to the Oud, Qanun, Ney and Darbuka
Meet the six instruments of the Arabic takht: oud, qanun, ney, violin, riq and darbuka. How each is played, what to listen for and which to learn first.
Arabic Music
Arab Music Festival Cairo 2026: A Listener's Guide
The 34th Arab Music Festival runs 20–30 October 2026 at the Cairo Opera House, honouring Hany Shaker. What it is, its 1932 roots and how to listen along.
Dutch Music
Amsterdam Dance Event at 30: How ADE Works in 2026
ADE 2026 runs 21–25 October with 1,300+ events. How the Amsterdam Dance Event works, its 1996 origins, tickets, free events and tips for first-timers.
Why "Nagm"?
Nagm (نغم) is Arabic for melody. We write beginner-friendly explainers on Arabic and Dutch music and link to the reference sources and official recordings we rely on, so you can listen for yourself. About Nagm