Zills

Zills : Origins, Technique, and Their Role in Oriental Dance

Zills (from the Turkish zil, meaning “cymbal”), also known as finger cymbals, are small metal cymbals used primarily in Oriental dance, but also in certain religious and orchestral music traditions. They belong to the family of struck idiophones, like castanets or clappers.
Their use dates back to antiquity. In ancient Greece, similar instruments called krotala were played during Dionysian festivities. The first depictions of finger cymbals appear in the Roman Empire (2nd–4th centuries), particularly in mosaics and bas-reliefs found across Europe.

The tradition then flourished in the Middle East, especially in Egypt and Turkey. The Ghawazi, hereditary Egyptian dancers, were renowned for their mastery of zills. These small cymbals are also featured in rituals like the Zaar, a healing ceremony involving hypnotic rhythms to calm troubled spirits.

Construction and Features

A full set of zills includes four cymbals: two for each hand. Each zill typically measures around 5 cm in diameter, though larger models exist for group dances or outdoor performances.
Most are made of brass, sometimes plated or engraved for decorative purposes.
They are attached to the thumbs and middle fingers using elastic bands or, traditionally, leather straps.
Two slits in each cymbal provide better control and stability. Some models feature only one hole, allowing for freer, more creative play.
Sound varies by size, alloy, and technique: light clicks, clear chimes, muffled tones, or sharp strikes. Dancers choose their zills based on mood, setting, or musical accompaniment (acoustic, amplified, orchestral, etc.).

Playing Techniques

Zills are played by striking one cymbal against the other, either rhythmically or freely, depending on the musical style. They can accompany dance, mark rhythmic accents, or complement a percussion ensemble.
Common traditional rhythms include:

Triples: Left/Right/Left/rest (giddyup giddyup)
Quads: L/R/L/R with no pause
Beledi: dum dum tek-a-tek dum tek-a-tek
Chiftatelli: dum dum tek-a-tek dum dum dum
Ayoub: dum a-tek-tek (buy more shoes and…)
Bolero: dum tek-a-tek-tek dum dum dum dum

Zills may also be played arrhythmically in Sufi or meditative music. In orchestral settings, percussionists sometimes hold them between two fingers or strike them with a mallet to create exotic effects.
Delicate, bright, and surprisingly powerful, zills expand the sonic palette of both Oriental and orchestral percussion. Their subtle artistry demands precision, rhythm, and expressiveness.

Zills in crush percussion