Riqs and Daffs are very similar to each other. The only differences are that a riq is smaller than a daff and a daff is just a frame drum which has no cymbals. Both are played in the same manner and use the similar rhythms. Riqs are often called tambourines even though they are different. The difference between a tambourine and a riq is that a tambourine has one set of cymbals along the rim where a riq has two. The difference is small and relatively unimportant. Both riqs and tambourines can be used to play the same rhythms and make the same sounds. Riqs and Daffs must be taken care of much the same as a drum. If you have a newer riq or daff with a replaceable mylar head you will need to have the head changed and possibly tuned. Those with animal skin heads will either have to make or buy their own replacement head. I have found it is harder to find the animal skin replacements. Once you have your animal skin head you can put the head on yourself or you can pay an instrument repair shop to do it for you. If you do it yourself look to see how the previous head was put on and apply the new head in the same fashion. I have found the most common ways to attach a head are to glue it onto the frame or to attach it with little push pins. No mater what you will need to pull the skin taught with little or preferably no slack. Once the head is attached check to see if it is taught or if it has to much slack. If there is a small amount of slack then you may try to heat it up by holding it close (not in) to fire or an immense heat source such as an open oven. This causes the skin to tighten and shrink. If however there is a lot of slack then you will have to take the head off and start again pulling tighter then before. You may also use the firing method once your head is older and has stretched from play to tighten it up again. I don't have any specific clips to listen to for these instruments but they can be heard on almost any Middle Eastern Song. Often to the untrained ear you will not even be able to distinguish these two instruments from the tabla being played. They are often used to strengthen the backbeat allowing the tabla to focus more on the fancy filling of rolls and added teks. This allows the main pattern to still be heard and distinguisable. Sometimes you may hear the riq's cymbals being shaken quite vigorously.
