Def (Daf, Tef) sits among Percussion instruments, in Iran’s Music. It consists of a wooden ring with a thin skin pulled over it; it’s played by finger strokes.
Def is similar to Timber, a bit larger, with a bass sound. Based on Books of Music Studies, and prose and Poetry written during Islamic Iran era, this instrument Backup Melodies and Maintain Rhythm. It has been the essential part of celebrations, joyful feasts, and congregations where people of virtue and mystic gathered, and Qawwalis sang songs to its tune. In dictionaries, Def or Timber is defined as “a ring of wood, thin skin pulled over it. All around the wooden ring, tiny little rings are installed. To derive better sound, Deer Skin is used on Def.
In the old times, small Defs or Timbers with tiny Rings of Brass or Zinc were called Khomak, Khombak. Clapping of hands, or snapping of fingers to the tune of music was also called Khomak or Khombac.
There were Def with bells installed around their ring. Those bells were called Jalaajell. During Islamic era in Iran, Def players and Timber players were called Jalaajel-zan.
In ancient Iran, Jallajel was a huge oval instrument with bells installed ‘round its ring, was used during War fights; it had horrific sound.
Def is mostly performed in Asia, and for that matter, it’s played mostly in the Middle East. Def is most widespread in the Arab world, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and other countries like Turkey, Iraq, and Azerbaijan. In the recent years, playing Def has become more popular in Iran and students are much eager to play the instrument. In Kurdistan, specifically the provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah, Def is cherished and playing Def has great status amongst people. It’s popularity in Kurdistan is mostly due to the mystic rites in the region. Followers of Gha’deri Rite, and Yarsan Rite (Iran’s Alevi) are among those who perform this instrument in their rituals.