Instruments of Vietnam

String Instruments

The đàn bầu is a stringed monochord zither. Its base is made up of a long body with a string that attaches from a tuning screw and passes through to a small wooden funnel resembling a gourd, then connects to a curved stalk made of buffalo horn. This curved stalk is bent by the left hand to alter the pitch of the note being played. The right hand plucks the string with a pick while using the back of the hand to create a harmonic. This technique allows for the instrument to play different notes and tones, despite only having one string. In modern times, the đàn bầu is played with an amplifier to carry the sound across. ​

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đàn nguyệt

The đàn nguyệt is a two stringed lute with a flat and circular sound box shaped like a moon. Its appearance is similar to Chinese, Japanese and Korean lutes, but the Vietnamese version can be easily distinguished by its long neck and raised fret. The instrument is played much like a guitar, where the strings are plucked with a flat pick. The đàn nguyệt is played in several musical or theatrical performances such as a solo, song accompaniment, instrument ensembles, chamber, ritual or court music.

The đàn tranh (16 strings) is a plucked instrument of the zither family. Three right hand fingers play the đàn tranh with fingerpicks (móng) which are made of tortoise shell, metal, or plastic. The left hand creates vibrations and other tonal techniques, which gives the đàn tranh the unique ability to mimic the Vietnamese language. To tune a đàn tranh, the musician must adjust the pegs and move the bridges (nhạn). Doing so will change the tuning of the string, which is especially useful when playing different genres of music.

đàn tranh

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đàn tỳ bà

The đàn tỳ bà is a four-stringed lute shaped like a pear. Descended from the Chinese pipa, the đàn tỳ bà was modified into a smaller size. The frets are placed in diatonic steps, and the instrument is played by plucking the four strings with a flat pick, similar to the đàn nguyệt's playing technique. The đàn tỳ bà is used in vocal accompaniment, chamber music and royal music.

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The đàn nhị/cò is a two-stringed fiddle and is played vertically, with the sound box resting by the hip. The sound box is made of hardwood or bamboo, with one end covered by snakeskin. Similarly to a violin, the đàn nhị/cò is played with a bow in the right hand while the left hand  is positioned along the strings over the neck to play each note, as well as create vibrato. At the top of the neck, there are two pegs to tune each string. The melodious sound of the đàn nhị/cò is said to imitate that of a singer, since it can render many expressions.

đàn nhị/cò

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Percussion

There are many instruments in the percussion family, including the phách tiền (coin clappers) trống đại, trống lễ and trống đế (large, medium, and small drums), trống cơm (rice drum), sông lan (castanets), mỏ (wooden beatkeeper), and chiêng (gongs).

Wind Instruments

Even though the sáo has a simple construction, this very quality allows for very complex technique. As part of the flute family, it is played horizontally and has six holes, with a seventh to create vibration. The flutist can control the sounds with the breath, the angle the air is blown, and how much of the holes are covered for delicate pitch changes. The music created by the sáo is reminiscent of the culture and spirit of Vietnam’s countryside.

sáo