A snare drum (bendir) made from goat skin, painted wood and gut snares. The skin is decorated with henna depicting the Hand of Fatima.
The bendir may be held vertically or horizontally (with the drumskin facing the ground).
It is played with both hands; one hand slaps the centre of the drum and the other taps the edge of the skin with the fingers. The Bendir is used to accompany songs and dances and is often played by women at weddings. The drum is held in one hand with the thumb gripping through the hole in the frame. The bendir is not hit with a stick; it is a hand drum. The rhythm is beaten using both hands. It is hit with the free hand using a mixture of palm and finger slaps at the centre and edge of the drumskin to get different tones. The hand holding the drum also uses the fingers to tap the edge of the skin. Strings of gut are stretched across the inside of the drumskin These strings are called a snare. When the drumskin is hit, the skin vibrates against this snare string to make a buzzing effect.
