Vietnamese monochord

E602774

The Vietnamese monochord, or đàn bầu, is a traditional Vietnamese zither-like string instrument played with a single string and known for its expressive, bending tones.

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Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf musical instrument
string instrument
traditional Vietnamese instrument
zither
classificationSystem Hornbostel–Sachs 312.11 (box zither with one string)
countryOfOrigin Vietnam NERFINISHED
culturalSignificance symbol of Vietnamese musical identity
used in traditional storytelling
hasAlternativeName dan bau NERFINISHED
độc huyền cầm
hasComponent bridge
flexible rod
resonator box
single string
sound hole
tuning peg
hasName đàn bầu
notableFeature expressive bending tones
glissando effects
vibrato control via tension changes
numberOfStrings 1
performanceContext accompaniment for singing
ensemble performance
solo performance
playingTechnique harmonic nodes
pitch bending with flexible rod
plucking with plectrum
relatedInstrument Chinese duxianqin NERFINISHED
Japanese ichigenkin NERFINISHED
Korean ajaeng (distantly, as zither family) NERFINISHED
soundCharacter highly expressive timbre
nasal and singing tone
soundProduction plucked
soundRange approximately two to three octaves (with harmonics)
stringMaterial metal
silk (historically)
tuningAdjustable true
tuningSystem pentatonic scale (common)
typicalMaterial bamboo
wood
typicalPlayingPosition horizontal
typicalPlectrumMaterial bamboo
horn
plastic
usedFor improvisation in traditional modes
ornamented melodic lines
usedIn Vietnamese court music
Vietnamese folk music
Vietnamese traditional music NERFINISHED
modern Vietnamese popular music arrangements

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

đàn bầu hasAlternativeName Vietnamese monochord