Traditional Korean musical instruments comprise a wide range of string, wind, and percussion instruments.

String

Korean

string instruments In musical instrument classification, string instruments, or chordophones, are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when a performer strums, plucks, strikes or sounds the strings in varying manners. Musicians play some ...

include those that are plucked, bowed, and struck. Most Korean string instruments use silk strings, except as noted.

Plucked

Zithers

* Gayageum () – A long zither with 12 strings; modern versions may have 13, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, or 25 strings * Geomungo () – A fretted bass zither with six to eleven silk strings that is plucked with a bamboo stick and played with a weight made out of cloth ** Cheolhyeongeum () – A geomungo with 8 steel strings plucked with a bamboo stick and played with a slide made out of either glass or metal in the manner of a

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...

, developed in the 20th centuryphoto 1
http://www.music-plaza.com/Product_Images/large/CNLR05062.jpg photo 2] * Daejaeng () – A long zither with 15 strings, slightly larger than the ''gayageum''; (basically a 15 String version of the Ajaeng but played w/ a Plectrum) it was used during the Goryeo period but is no longer usedphoto
/sup> However it is being revived for song covers. * Seul () – A long zither with 25 strings, derived from the Chinese '' se''; used today only in '' Munmyo jeryeak'' (Korean Confucian ritual music)photo
/sup> *

Geum ''Geum'' , (Latinized Greek for "taste" referencing the roots of the plant) commonly called avens, is a genus of about 50 species of rhizomatous perennial herbaceous plants in the rose family and its subfamily Rosoideae which are widely distrib ...

() – A 7-stringed zither, derived from the Chinese ''

guqin The ''guqin'' (; ) is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as highlighted b ...

''; also called ''chilheyongeum''; used today only in ''Munmyo jeryeak'' (Korean Confucian ritual music)photo
/sup> * Ongnyugeum () – A large modernized box zither with 33 nylon-wrapped metal strings, developed in 1973; used only in North Korea (pronounced ''ongryugeum'' in North Korea)photo 1
http://ifes.kyungnam.ac.kr/admin/upload_File/data/Dsc00059.jpg photo
photo 3
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Harps

* Gonghu () – Harps (no longer used). There were four subtypes according to shape: ** Sogonghu () – harp with angled sound box, 13 strings, and a peg that is tucked into the player's belt ** Sugonghu () – vertical harp without sound box and 21 strings photo
/sup> ** Wagonghu () – Arched harp with a large internal sound box and 13 strings, similar to Burmese saung gauk photo
/sup> ** Daegonghu () – large vertical harp with 23-strings

Lutes

Bipa The ''bipa'' () is a pear-shaped lute that is a traditional Korean musical instrument. It is derived from Chinese traditional musical instruments, Chinese ''pipa'' and was introduced through the Silk Road to Goguryeo and Silla. There are two major ...

() – A pear-shaped lute with five strings (''hyangbipa'' or ''jikgyeongbipa'') or four strings ''(dangbipa''). Uncommon today; most modern recreations are modelled on the Chinese ''

pipa The pipa, pípá, or p'i-p'a () is a traditional Chinese musical instrument belonging to the plucked category of instruments. Sometimes called the "Chinese lute", the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets rangi ...

'' * Wolgeum () – A lute with a moon-shaped wooden body, four strings, and 13 frets; no longer used * Eoeungeum () – A pear-shaped lute with five strings similar to ''hyangbipa''; used only in North Korea

Bowed

Fiddles

Haegeum The ''haegeum'' () is a traditional Korean string instrument, resembling a vertical fiddle with two strings; derived from the ancient Chinese '' xiqin''. It has a rodlike neck, a hollow wooden soundbox, and two silk strings, and is held verti ...

() – A vertical fiddle with two strings; derived from the ancient Chinese '' xiqin'' * Sohaegeum () – A modernized fiddle with four strings similar to a modern violin; used only in North Korea * Junghaegeum () - A modernized fiddle with four strings similar to a modern viola; used only in North Korea * Daehaegeum () - A modernized fiddle with four strings similar to a modern cello; used only in North Korea * Jeohaegeum () - A modernized fiddle with four strings similar to a modern double bass; used only in North Korea

Zithers

* Ajaeng () – A zither bowed with a wooden stick, derived from the Chinese '' yazheng''

Struck

Yanggeum The ''yanggeum'' () is a traditional Korean string instrument. It is a hammered dulcimer. Unlike other traditional Korean instruments (most of which have silk strings), the ''yanggeum'' has metal strings. It is played by striking the strings with ...

() – A

hammered dulcimer The hammered dulcimer (also called the hammer dulcimer) is a percussion-string instrument which consists of String (music), strings typically stretched over a trapezoidal resonant sound board (music), sound board. The hammered dulcimer is set bef ...

with metal strings, struck with bamboo mallets; derived from the Chinese ''

yangqin The trapezoidal yangqin () is a Chinese hammered dulcimer, likely derived from the Iranian santur or the European dulcimer. It used to be written with the characters 洋琴 (lit. "foreign zither"), but over time the first character changed to ...

Wind

Flutes

Transverse

Daegeum The ''daegeum'' (also spelled ''taegum'', ''daegum'' or ''taegŭm'') is a large bamboo flute, a transverse flute used in traditional Korean music. It has a buzzing membrane that gives it a special timbre. It is used in court, aristocratic, and f ...

() – A large transverse bamboo flute with six finger-holes and an additional hole covered by a buzzing membrane *

Junggeum The ''junggeum'' (), also ''chunggum'' or ''chunggŭm'', is a medium-sized transverse bamboo flute formerly used in traditional Korean music. Unlike the larger '' daegeum'', it does not have a buzzing membrane (although it did have one in ancie ...

() – A medium-sized transverse bamboo flute with six finger-holes, without a buzzing membrane; rarely used today *

Sogeum The ''sogeum'' (; also spelled ''sogum'' or ''sogŭm'') is a small bamboo transverse flute used in traditional Korean music. Unlike the larger '' daegeum'', it does not have a buzzing membrane (although it did have one in ancient times). It is ...

() – A small transverse bamboo flute with six finger-holes, without a buzzing membrane * Dangjeok () – A small transverse bamboo flute of Tang Chinese origin, slightly smaller than the ''junggeum'' * Ji () – An ancient transverse bamboo flute with a protruding notched blowhole and five finger holes (one in the back and four in the front), derived from the Chinese ''chí.'' Used only in aak and ''Munmyo jeryeak'' (Korean Confucian ritual music)

End-blown

* Danso () – A small notched vertical bamboo flute with four finger-holes * Tungso () – A long notched vertical bamboo flute with five finger-holes; originally called ''tongso'' * Yak () – A notched vertical bamboo flute with three finger-holes; used in ''Munmyo jeryeak'' (Korean Confucian ritual music) *Jeok () * So () – A

pan flute A pan flute (also known as panpipes or syrinx) is a musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube, consisting of multiple pipes of gradually increasing length (and occasionally girth). Multiple varieties of pan flutes have been ...

; derived from the Chinese '' paixiao''; used only in ''Munmyo jeryeak'' (Korean Confucian ritual music * Hun () – A globular flute made of baked clay originating from prehistoric times; end-blown like a

shakuhachi A is a Japanese longitudinal, end-blown flute that is made of bamboo. The bamboo end-blown flute now known as the was developed in Japan in the 16th century and is called the .

, unlike an

ocarina The ocarina (otherwise known as a potato flute) is a wind musical instrument; it is a type of vessel flute. Variations exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the bo ...

(which is a whistle design). Derived from the Chinese '' xun''

Oboes

* Piri () – A cylindrical oboe with a bamboo body. There are four varieties of ''piri'': **Hyang piri () **Se piri () **Dang piri () **Dae piri () – A modernised instrument with clarinet-like keys, used only in North Korea *

Taepyeongso The ''taepyeongso'' (), also called ''hojok'', ''hojeok'' 호적 號笛/wikt:胡, 胡wikt:笛, 笛, ''nallari'', or ''saenap'', wikt:嗩, 嗩wikt:吶, 吶, is a Korean double reed wind instrument in the shawm or oboe family. It is possibly desce ...

(태평소; 太平簫; also called ''hojeok, saenap'' or ''nallari'') – A conical oboe with a wooden body and metal bell

Free-reed

* Saenghwang () – A free-reed mouth organ with 17 bamboo pipes, derived from the Chinese '' sheng''; uncommon today

Trumpets

* Nabal () – Long metal trumpet; used in ''

daechwita ''Daechwita'' () is a genre of Korean traditional music consisting of military music played by wind and percussion instruments, generally performed while marching or as a static performance. Instrumentation Instruments used include '' na ...

'' *

Nagak The ''nagak'' (; also called ''na'', ''sora'', or ''godong'') is a wind-instrument made from a large seashell and played as a horn in Korean traditional music. It produces only a single tone and is used primarily in the military procession musi ...

() – Sea shell horn, also called ''sora;'' used in ''

Percussion

* Jong () – A bronze bell * Pyeonjong () – A set of 16 tuned bronze bells used in ancient court music; derived from the Chinese ''

bianzhong ''Bianzhong'' () () is an ancient China, ancient Chinese List of traditional Chinese musical instruments, musical instrument consisting of a set of bronze bells, played melodically. China is the earliest country to manufacture and use musical chi ...

'' * Teukgjong () – A single large bronze bell * Pyeongyeong () – A set of 16 tuned stone chimes used in ancient court music; derived from the Chinese ''

bianqing The ''bianqing'' (IPA: iːɛnʧɪŋ zh, s=编磬, p=biānqìng i̯ɛn˥ t͡ɕʰiŋ˥˩ is a traditional List of traditional Chinese musical instruments, Chinese percussion instrument consisting of a set of L-shaped flat stone chimes kno ...

'' * Teukgyeong () – A single large tuned stone chime * Banghyang () – A

metallophone A metallophone is any musical instrument in which the sound-producing body is a piece of metal (other than a metal string), such as tuned metal bars, tubes, rods, bowls, or plates. Most frequently the metal body is struck to produce sound, usual ...

with 16 tuned iron slabs; derived from the Chinese ''

fangxiang The ''fangxiang'' (also ''fang xiang'', ''fang hsiang''; zh, s=, t=, p=fāngxiǎng; also known in the West as the Chinese chang) is an organized-suspended (bianxuan) Chinese metallophone that has been used for over 1,000 years. It was first u ...

'' *

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() – A set of ten small tuned gongs in a wooden frame; derived from the Chinese '' yunluo

Drums

* Buk () – A barrel drum used primarily in pansori, pungmul, and samulnori. The term ''buk'' is also used in Korean as a generic term to refer to any type of drum. **Pungmul-buk() – used in

pungmul ''Pungmul'' (; ) is a Traditional music of Korea#Folk music, Korean folk music tradition that includes drumming, dance, dancing, and singing. Most performances are outside, with dozens of players all in constant motion. ''Pungmul'' is rooted in th ...

() **Sori-buk () – used to accompany pansori () *

Janggu The ''janggu'' (, also transliterated as ''janggo'' or ''changgo'') or ''seyogo'' () is a drum often used in traditional Korean music. It consists of an hourglass-shaped body with two heads made from various types of leather. The two heads pr ...

or Janggo () – A double-headed hourglass-shaped drum generally played with one stick and one hand * Galgo () – Double-headed hourglass-shaped drum similar to the ''janggo'' but played with two sticks and thinner drum heads; sometimes called ''yanggo'' or ''yangjanggo''; no longer commonly use

* Jingo (drum), Jingo () – Largest barrel drum * Jeolgo () – Barrel drum * Jwago () – A barrel drum in a wooden frame * Geongo () – Huge barrel drum * Yonggo () – A barrel drum with a dragon painted on its shell; used in ''

'' * Eunggo () – Barrel drum suspended from a frame * Sakgo – () – A long barrel drum suspended from a wooden frame * Gyobanggo () – Flat drum suspended from a frame * Junggo () – Flat drum suspended from a frame; similar to the ''gyobanggo'' but larger *

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() – A small hand-held drum * Nogo () – A set of two drums pierced by a pole * Nodo () – A set of two small drums on a pole, which is twisted to play; used in ritual music * Yeongdo (영도; hanja:靈鼗) – Four drums on a pole, which is twisted to play; used in ritual music * Noedo ()) – six small drums hung in a frame; used in ritual music * Noego () – Three small barrel drums on a pole, which is twisted to play; used in ritual music * Do () – single pellet drum on a pole

Gongs

* Kkwaenggwari () – A small gong used primarily in folk music * Jing () – A large gong; originally pronounced ''jeong'' ()

Cymbals

* Jabara (; also called ''bara'', ''bal'', or ''jegeum'') – pair of large brass cymbals, The name Zabara comes from Calpara.

Wooden instruments

* Bak () – A wooden clapper; used in ancient court and ritual music *

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() – A wooden box, played by hitting a stick on the inside, used to mark beats or sections; derived from the Chinese '' zhù''; used in ancient ritual music * Eo () – A wooden percussion instrument carved in the shape of a tiger with a serrated back, played by running a bamboo whisk across it to mark the ends of sections; derived from the Chinese ''yǔ''

Clay instruments

* Bu () – A clay pot, derived from the Chinese ''fǒu''; used in ''Munmyo jeryeak''

References

External links

Korean string instrumentsKorean bamboo wind instrumentsKorean drums

Listening

from Robert Garfias site

Video

Korean instruments videos
from Robert Garfias site {{Authority control Instruments South Korean folk music

String

Plucked

Zithers

Harps

Lutes

Bowed

Fiddles

Zithers

Struck

Wind

Flutes

Transverse

End-blown

Oboes

Free-reed

Trumpets

Percussion

Drums

Gongs

Cymbals

Wooden instruments

Clay instruments

See also

References

External links

Listening

Video