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Zills (finger cymbals) add a very exciting element to Middle Eastern Dance. Zill playing should enhance the music
not overpower it. Zill playing can make the difference between a good dancer and a great one! The Turkish word for
finger cymbals is Zill, the Arabic Egyptian word is Sagat, also Sil Sil in Arabic and in Farsi (Persian) the term is Salasih.
Zills are fastened to the middle finger and thumb between the knuckle and fingernail with ½" to 3/8" elastic. It is
preferable that the elastic is sewn together instead of tied in a knot or pinned, as the knot or pin interferes with the
quality of the sound. Zills should be tight enough so that they do not slide around your fingers or worse -- come flying
off into your audience! The key to playing zills is knowing the music very well and to practice often. Keep the elbows
away from your body and the hands and fingers relaxed. Try to practice playing zills for at least fifteen minutes each
day. It is a good idea to try a simple walk while practicing and gradually add basic dance steps such as large hip
circles, rib slides and shimmies. Do not get in the habit of simply sitting and playing, because you may never be able to
dance and play zills at the same time.
Zills may be played continuously throughout the routine or used for build-up, accents and dramatic effect. You can
play the actual rhythm with your zills such as a beledi or karsilama rhythm. This is what the percussion (drummer) is
playing). You can also play zill patterns or counter rhythms that do not distract from the actual rhythm but
complement it such as triplets. Putting zill patterns to music will help you to learn the basics of good zil lplaying.
It is not necessary to play the zills throughout your entire routine. It is probably best not to play zills during a taxim or
drum solo. During the taxim, you should be concentrating on beautiful, lyrical isolations and arm and hand
movements. The drum solo is the chance for the drummer to show off his musical skills, not you. Of course, during a
veil number, you do not play your zills. It is okay to pause while playing zills -- you do not have to hit every beat!
Egyptian dancers do not usually play zills. Often, they hire someone to play zills for them. It is not that they lack the
ability, the hiring of musicians is a sign of affluence.
Zills come in various shapes and tones such as Turkish or Persian and range in size from 1 ½ to 4 inches. It is best
for the beginning student to begin with the smaller size as the larger zills weight may prove tiring. It takes practice and
time to build up the muscles to use the larger zills. Most manufactured zills are made from solid brass. Cast zills are
generally handmade in third world countries, so the quality is not standardized. I have enjoyed playing cast zills in the
past, but have noticed they tend to be more susceptible to cracking. (Do not leave them in your car overnight in the
winter!)
REGULAR TONE or BASIC STROKE - Middle finger zill strikes thumb zill at slight angle (approx.30-45 degrees).
The rim of the thumb zill is slightly higher than the middle zill. Ring finger is resting beside the middle finger to give
needed control.
LIGHTER TONE - Remove ring finger from middle finger zill. You will have less control, but the sound will be
slightly higher.
MUTED TONE - Place 4 fingers on top of zill. Clapping zills together with rims touching produces a muted tone.
RIM TONE – Keeping the zill attached to your thumb flat, turn the middle-finger zill sideways so that you are striking
the zill on its rim, producing a very light tap.
CLAPPING - Clap the middle finger of each hand, or middle finger zills and thumb zills at the same time. Clap the
middle finger of the right hand to the left hand thumb zill and vice versa. Clap a zill on the floor!
VIBRATING ZILLS - Hold hands together to form a V shape, touching zills together. Keep one hand still while
vibrating the other hand or vibrate both hands simultaneously. This looks especially nice while spinning.
VIBRATING ZILS INSIDE ZILLS - Hold one set of zills a few inches a part. Place the other set of zills inside first
set and vibrate zills against each other.
ZILl PATTERNS - To simplify zill playing, start with your strong hand. If you are right handed, begin playing with
the right hand. If you are left handed, begin playing with the left hand. Let A signify your dominant hand and B your
other hand. Play the Duns with your dominant hand.
Singles: Strike zills once on each beat of the music.
Doubles: Strike zills twice on each beat of the music. Play A and B and A and B and A and B. Or think 1 and 2 and 3
and 4 and 5, etc.
Triples: Tek-a-Tek - Play ABA BAB Repeat pattern continuously. Some teachers refer to this as a gallop or triplet. By
switching back and forth between the left and right hand, you will be able to go much faster than if you were to play
ABA ABA ABA or AAB AAB AAB. These are alternative ways to play the same pattern and you can try them to add
variation to your playing. Each triple should fall on one beat of the rhythm.
Alternating zils: Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek - Simply and smoothly strike zils with one hand and then the other. There
are no pauses. Play ABABABA. Repeat pattern continuously.
Beledi: Dun Dun Tek-a-Tek Dun Tek-a-Tek - Play AA BAB A BAB. Repeat pattern continuously.
You can have a lot of fun playing these patterns in different combinations: Try:
Playing 2 sets of Triplets and add 1 set of Alternating zils:
Tek-a-Tek Tek-a-Tek ---Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek or ABA BAB---ABABABA
Try playing Beledi rhythm and add Alternating zils:
Dun Dun Tek-a-Tek Dun Tek-a-Tek -- Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek-a-Tek
Try playing Triplets, Alternating and Beledi rhythm in any combination you like. Have fun. Now try putting it to music.
Remember zil playing is not hard -- but it does take practice!
References
Sereem, Veda, Quality of Belly Dancing, USA, 1977. pp. 66-69.
Information gathered from personal notes: group lessons with Uncle Mafufo, Delilah’s Visionary Dance Retreat, Maui
SUGGESTED RESOURCES FOR HOME STUDY
ONLINE INFORMATION
On-Line Finger Cymbal Workshop: www.shira.net
Includes the following: Introduction to Finger Cymbals, Finger Cymbal Patterns for Arabic 4/4 Music, Finger
Cymbal Rhythms for Karsilama (9/8) Music, Crocheted Zil Mufflers, Video Review: How to Play Finger Cymbals
with Mesmera, Instructional Book Reviews
Practicing with the Finger Cymbals (also known as Sagat or Zills) by Jasmin Jahal, March 2000,
http://www.jasminjahal.com/articles/art_practicing_with_finger.html
Rhythms and Cymbal Patterns by Jasmin Jahal, February 2000, http://www.jasminjahal.
com/articles/art_rhythm_cymbal_patterns.html
Rhythm Classes with Osama El-Gohary, http://www.zilltech.com/OsamaRhythm.html
VIDEOS
Beledi with Interpretive Zils: An intuitive approach to playing finger cymbals, using rhythm, melody, and accent. 2 hrs.
50 min. USA Contact: Lucy Lee, PO Box 1973, Newport News, VA 23601, (804) 595-7838
How to Play Finger Cymbals with Mesmera, produced by Harry Saroyan, available: www.saroyanzils.com
"Zills" Tribal Basics Video Workshop, Volume Three, from FatChanceBellyDance, learn to play zils in their ethnic
style. Available from Artemis Imports or FatChanceBellyDance, PO Box 460594, San Francisco, CA 94146.
CASSETTE TAPES
Beginner Cymbal Tape for Belly Dancers by Mary Ellen Donald available from Artemis Imports.
BOOKS/INSTRUCTIONAL PHAMPLETS
Zils, The Art of Playing Finger Cymbals, by Mimi Spencer, 52 pages, cassette to accompany also available from
Artemis Imports. See vendor list below
The Art of Playing Finger Cymbals, by Joynan, $8.95 (1997 price) available from Unicorn Belly Dance Supplies. See
vendor list below.
VENDORS FOR ZILlS/VIDEOS/BOOKS
Saroyan Mastercrafts, PO Box 2056, Riverside, CA 92516, 909-783-2050, www.saroyanzils.com, email:
ZilsUSA@aol.com
Scheherezade Imports, 2420 Hampden Row, Rockville, Virginia, USA 23146
(804) 749-3059, (804) 749-3480 (FAX), http://www.scheherezadeimports.com
sherzade@earthlink.net