This document provides information on traditional Thai musical instruments organized by type: percussion instruments including metallophones, gongs, cymbals, drums; chordophones including zithers and fiddles; and aerophones including oboes and mouth organs. It also summarizes the history of Thai pop music, noting the influences of Western classical music and jazz in the 1930s, the development of local styles like lukgrung and luk thung in the 1960s-1980s, and contemporary fusion genres that blend ancient and modern styles.

1. Thailand
Musical Instruments

2. NAME ME
(China)Erhu
(India)
Mridangam
(Philippines) Gabang
(Philippines)
Kulintang Ensemble
(Philippines)
Diwdiw-As

3. Percussion instruments
Idiophones
• Ranat thum-it is a box-shaped
metallophone that is placed on
the floor
• Kwhang Wong Lek-it is a higher
gong circle; comprises many
small tuned bossed gongs
mounted in a rattan frame
• Ching-pair of small, thick
cymbals joined by a cord

4. Percussion Instruments
Membranophones
• Taphon-sacred barrel
drum; played with the
hands and used in
the piphat ensemble
• Rammana- it is a shallow
drum that looks like a
tambourine
• Thon Ramana-is a bowl
shaped ceramic drum
that is used in the Mahori
Ensemble

5. Chordophones
Plucked/Struked
• Jakhae-crocodile-shaped
fretted floor zither with
three strings
Bowed-string
• Sau Duang-- higher twostring fiddle with
hardwood body

6. Aerophones
Oboes
• Pi nai-standard leading
instrument used in
the piphat ensemble
Free-reeded
• Khaen-it is a bamboo
mouth organ that is
described to produce a
drone

7. Brief History of Thai Pop Music
• 1930s
– Western Classical Music
– Jazz and Tango
• 1960s
– Lukgrung
– Wrong Shadow
• 1980s
– Nationalistic Elements
• Mid 20th Century
– Luk Thung
– (Country Song)

8. •Luk Thung (Child of the
fields)-is the most popular
form of Thai country music
•Pumpuang Duangjan-the
mega star and the pioneer
of elecronic luk thung
•Mor Lam-Expert
Singer/Expert Song
– it is an Ancient Lao form of
song
– Singers perform three
minute songs combining lam
segments with luk thung or
pop style version
– Typically consists of medley
music
Thai Pop