Instruments used in Thai music

1. Thai Music
(Instruments)

2. Ranat Ek
• The Ranak Et consists of 21 wooden bars over a
boat shaped trough resonator.
• Typically, the wood used for the Ranak Et is from
Rosewood.
• A choice of hard or soft mallets are used
depending on what sound is desired.
• A sharper sound is achieved by the harder mallet
and is used for faster rhythms.
• A softer ring is given when the softer mallets are
used the note is more resonant and longer lasting.

3. Pong Lang
• The top of the Pong lang with the lower sounding
notes is ties to a tree or a post.
• The bottom of the instrument with the higher-
pitched notes is useually held down by the player’s
toe or foot.
• The instrument typically has 12 bars and is played
by two players. One player plays the melody while
the other plays a drone accompaniment.

4. Khlui
• The Khlui allegedly dates back to before the
1200’s.
• The instrument is typically reedless and made of
bamboo although mostly made of plastic when
mass-produced.
• It consists of 8 holes unto which the scale of the
Khlui is created.

5. Saw Duang • Like the violin, the bow strings are made of
horse hair.
• The instrument is placed in the lap and
played in a vertically upright position.
• The neck of the Saw Duang holds the two
strings of the main body.
• The instrument has a hollowed-out section
at the bottom to help bolster resonance.

6. Thon and Rammana • These two drums are the main backbone
of the Thai music ensemble.
• This is one of the key percussion
instruments in this style of music as it
holds the tempo.
• The thon (left) being larger gives out a
lower-pitched sound.
• The Rammana is smaller hence why it
gives out a higher-pitched sound.