.:: Thai Folk Musical Instruments ::.

Gong wong yai is the main instrument of an ensemble, playing the principle melody. This type comprises of 16 kattles in one set and consisting of two main parts: Loog gong (a kattle): made of alloy for sound making. The kattle shape is similar to a little bowl being turned upside-down with a small dome on top; while the turning is done by attaching a lump of beeswax mixed with tin particles underneath, or in fact inside the bowl. Player strike "hammer" on the dome crest. Ruan gong (Gong house): can be made of either rattan, wood, or even bamboo leavings in circular shape; having the gong kattles hanging on it with a specially knotted raw hide rope tying around and connecting them together.