Middle Eastern Dance
Watch Out... I Spit!
Middle Eastern Musical Genres

This page is an extensive list of different genres of Middle Eastern music, including musical genres from Arabic, Turkish, and Persian/Farsi music and Western music that draws from those styles.  This list is not and may never be complete due to the sheer volume of different folk geres and ever evolving and changing musical styles out there.  It does however provide you with a good starting point.  Although this area is under construction eventually each style will have a link to it's own page where you can read about the characteristics of each genre, watch videos or hear samples of musicians performing each genre, and find resources like videos, CDs, articles, and and other related resources that you may be interested in checking out for further research.  If there is a genre that you are interested in learning about that is not listed here please let me know.  I will do my best to include it.  Please do not make requests for styles that are listed but not yet linked.

Arabic Music
North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia)
Algeria
Gharnati (Andalusian)
Andalusi Nubah (Nuubaat)
Rabaab
Hawzii
Ma'luf
Chaabi
Classical
Contemporary
Rai
Classical Oriental
Kabylian - Berber
Hanifia
Zindali
Popular

Egypt
Classical
Contemporary
Sha'abi
Al-Geel
Baladi
Saidi
Fallahi
Ghawazee
Nubian
Sawahi
Sinawi
Tanoura?
Libya
Ma'luf
Meskawi
Al-Jeel
Tuareg
Huda
Morocco
Al-Ala/Andalusi Nubah
Gharnati
Malhoun
Aissaoua/Aissawa
Chaabi
Rai
Berber
Tunisia
Ma'luf
Mezwed
Salhi

Levant (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria)
Iraq
Classical / Iraqi Maqam
Kurdish (Not technically Arabic)
Choubi
Basta
Bezikh
Qawliyah
Contemporary
Jordan
Zajal
Bedouin
Lebanon
Moazzeeya
Shababi
Tarab
Palestine
Majana / Ataba
Dal'ona
Sahja
Zaghareet
Hip Hop
Syria
Qudood
Tarab
Shababi

Gulf (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Yemen)
Bahrain
Khaleeji
Sawt
Fidjeri
Sanginni
Bahri
Adsani
Mkholfi
Dan
Haddadi
Hasawi
Zumayya
Liwa
Ardha
Kuwait
Sawt
Al-Fann
Liwa
Al-Nahma
Pop
Oman
Tanbura / Nuban
As-Sot
Shami
Arabi
Bara
Lewa
Zamr
Sharh
Maidan
Riwa
Bahr
Zar
Aiyala
Wahhabiya
Razha
Hambura
Midema
Shubbaniya / As-shubani
Azi
Qaranqashu
Rauwah
Mikwara
Az-Zinug
Qatar
Tanboura
Al-Nahma
Khaliji
Bedouin
Saudi Arabia
Khaliji
Samri
Bedouin
Pop
United Arab Emirates
Khaliji
Liwa
Yemen
Homayni
Barra
Classical

Turkish Music (Turkey)
Turkey
Classical / Ottoman
Ҫiftetelli
Romani
Fasil
Janisary / Mehter Takimi
Zeybek
Halay
Arabesques
Fantazi
Pop
Kanto
Turku
Koşma
Semai
Mani
Destan
Deyiş
Uzun Hava
Bozlak
Ağit
Hoyrat
Maya
Boğaz Havasi
Teke Zorlatmasi
Ninni
Tekerleme

Persian/Farsi Music (Iran)
Iran
Classical Persian
Magham
Bandari
Masanderan
Khorason
Fars
Gilan
Kurdistan
Pop

Religious Music and Recitation (All languages and regions)
Mawashshhaat
Mawal
Nasheed
Tajweed
Sufi
Spiritual
Coptic
Zaar
Gnawa
Mizrahit
Yeminite Jewish


Middle East Meets West Music
Middle Eastern Music Produced in the West
Tsiftitelli (Greek)
Dance Music

Middle Eastern Inspired Western Music
Sampled Songs in Pop Music
Middle Eastern Inspired Sounds
Middle Eastern and/or Bellydance Themes

Western Inspired Middle Eastern Music
Sampled Songs in Pop Music
Western Inspired Sounds
Western Genres in the Middle East
Persian Musician from a painting in the palace in Isfahan.  1670.