The saw duang is a two-stringed instrument used in traditional Thai music. The sound is produced by the bow made from horsetail hair which goes between the strings made from silk. The bow has to be tilted to switch from one string to another. Saw duang is light and played vertically on the lap. It creates a bright tone unlike the Saw u which produces a mellow sound. Another instrument which is similar to the Saw duang is the Chinese stringed instrument called Huqin.

History

Thai musical instruments were adopted from Chinese instruments but with adaptations. The variety of musical instruments expanded when the Thai kingdom in the Indo-China peninsula came into contact with India. Later on, Thailand also adopted western instruments such as the violin and the organ. Saw duang may have been copied from the Huqin of China. The name was given based on its shape which resembles a trap (duang dak yae or ด้วงดักแย้) used by the people of the Northern provinces to catch edible lizards.

Structure

Saw duang has seven main components:

Use

In a traditional string ensemble or Wong Khrueang Sai (วงเครื่องสาย), Saw duang acts as a leader due to its high and clear sound. In recent times, the traditional string ensemble has developed with the addition of Western instruments such as violins and piano. These string ensembles are used in many occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and housewarmings. It is equivalent to the Cambodian Tro sau toch.