Traditional Thai musical instruments (Thai: เครื่องดนตรีไทย) are the musical instruments used in the traditional and classical music of Thailand. They comprise a wide range of wind, string, and percussion instruments played by both the Thai majority as well as the nation's ethnic minorities.
In the traditional Thai system of organology, they are classified into four categories, by the action used in playing:
- Plucking (plucked string instruments; เครื่องดีด, khrueang dit)
- Bowing (bowed string instruments; เครื่องสี, khrueang si)
- Striking (percussion instruments and hammered dulcimer; เครื่องตี, khrueang ti)
- Blowing (wind instruments; เครื่องเป่า, khrueang pao)
Traditional Thai musical instruments also are classified into four categories, by the region of Thailand in which they are used.
Grajabpi (กระจับปี่) - ancient fretted luteJakhe (จะเข้) - crocodile-shaped fretted floor zither with three stringsPhin (พิณ) - three-stringed lute used in the Isan region of northeastern ThailandPhin phia (พิณเพียะ) - chest-resonated stick zither played by the Lanna of northern ThailandSueng (ซึง) - plucked lute from the Lanna region of northern ThailandPhin hai (พิณไห) or hai song (ไหซอง) - a set of earthenware jars with rubber bands stretched over the open mouthsSaw duang (ซอด้วง) - higher two-string fiddle with hardwood body; used in classical musicSaw sam sai (ซอสามสาย) - three-string spike fiddle with coconut shell body; used in classical musicSaw u (ซออู้) - lower two-string fiddle with a coconut shell body; used in classical musicSaw pip (ซอปีบ or ซอปี๊บ) or saw krapong (ซอกระป๋อง)- two-string fiddles with body made from a metal can; used in the Isan region of northeast Thailand; saw krapong is smallerSaw bang (ซอบั้ง) - used in the Isan region of northeast ThailandSalo (สะล้อ) - three-string spike fiddle used in the Lanna regionKhim (ขิม) - hammered dulcimer was classified as an idiophoneTaphon (ตะโพน) or klawng taphon (กลองตะโพน) - sacred barrel drum; played with the hands and used in the piphat ensemble and it is an membranophoneTaphon mon (ตะโพนมอญ) - large drum played with the hand, used in the piphat MonGlong thad (กลองทัด) - large drum played with sticks; usually played in a pair and used in the piphat ensembleRammana (รำมะนา) - frame drum; played with the handThon (โทน) - goblet drum; played with the handGlong thap (กลองทับ) - goblet drum used primarily in southern Thai folk musicGlong khaek (กลองแขก) - barrel drum; played with the hands and generally played in pairsGlong songna (กลองสองหน้า) - barrel drum; played with the handsGlong yao (กลองยาว) - long drum; played with the handsPoengmang khok (เปิงมางคอก), or simply poengmang (เปิงมาง) - set of tuned drums used in the piphat monGlong chatri (กลองชาตรี) - same as Glong thad but smaller, played with sticks; used in the piphat chatriGlong banthoh (กลองบัณเฑาะว์) - smallest barrel drum; used in the Royal Thai Brahmanism-Hinduism Ceremony or ritual about the Thai Royal FamilyGlong seng (กลองเส็ง), Glong ching (กลองจิ่ง), or Glong tae (กลองแตะ) - large drum played with sticks; generally played in pairs and used in competition in the Isan region of northeast Thailand, particularly by the Phu Thai peopleKhong wong lek (ฆ้องวงเล็ก) - higher gong circle; comprises many small tuned bossed gongs mounted in a rattan frameKhong wong yai (ฆ้องวงใหญ่)- lower gong circle; comprises many small tuned bossed gongs mounted in a rattan frameKhong mon (ฆ้องมอญ) - set of many small tuned bossed gongs arranged in vertical curved frame; usually primarily in funeral musicKhong rang (ฆ้องราง) - set of eight tuned gongs suspended horizontally in a straight frame; similar to the southern Philippine kulintang; rareRanat (ระนาด) - trough-resonated keyboard percussion instrument; generally played with two mallets and used in Thai classical and theater musicRanat ek (ระนาดเอก) - higher xylophone, with bars usually made of hardwoodRanat thum (ระนาดทุ้ม) - lower xylophone, with bamboo or hardwood barsRanat ek lek (ระนาดเอกเหล็ก) - higher metallophoneRanat thum lek (ระนาดทุ้มเหล็ก) - lower metallophoneRanat kaeo (ระนาดแก้ว) - crystallophone; very rarePong lang (โปงลาง) - pentatonic log xylophone used in the Isan regionKhong chai (ฆ้องชัย), also called khong hui (ฆ้องหุ่ย) or khong mui (ฆ้องมุ่ย) - huge hanging bossed gong used for indicating timeKhong mong (ฆ้องโหม่ง) or mong (โหม่ง) - medium-sized hanging bossed gong used in Thai ensemblesKhong meng (ฆ้องเหม่ง) or khong kratae (ฆ้องกระแต) - small bossed gong used as a signaling device and in traditional parades with klawng yaoKhong rao (ฆ้องราว) - three bossed gongs (small, medium, and large) suspended vertically in a wooden frame; rareKhong khu (ฆ้องคู่) - pair of small bossed gongs suspended horizontally in a wooden box; used in theater music and music of southern ThailandWong khong chai (วงฆ้องชัย) - set of seven large bossed gongs suspended vertically in a circular frame; rareKrap (กรับ) - clapperKrap phuang (กรับพวง) - bundle of hardwood and brass slats, tied together at one endKrap sepha (กรับเสภา) - pair of bamboo or hardwood sticksChing (ฉิ่ง) - pair of small, thick cymbals joined by a cord; used to mark timeChap (ฉาบ) - pair of flat cymbals joined by a cordChap lek (ฉาบเล็ก) - smallerChap yai (ฉาบใหญ่) - largerAngklung (อังกะลุง) - set of tuned bamboo tubes mounted in a frame and shaken; generally played by a group. Comes from Indonesia.Mahorathuek (มโหระทึก) - bronze drum; dates back to the Dong Son culture of antiquity and today very rare.Khlui (ขลุ่ย) - vertical duct flute made of bamboo, hardwood, or plasticKhlui lib (ขลุ่ยหลิบ or ขลุ่ยหลีบ; treble); not commonly usedKhlui phiang aw (ขลุ่ยเพียงออ; medium)Khlui u (ขลุ่ยอู้; bass); not commonly usedWot (โหวด) - circular panpipe used in the Isan region of northeast Thailand. Play by holding between the hands, and while rotating, blow downwards into the pipes.Khaen (แคน) - mouth organ used in the Isan (northeastern) regionPi chum (ปี่จุม; called ปี่ซอ pi so in northern Thailand) - free reed pipe used in the Lanna (northern) regionGourd mouth organ - used by the Akha (called lachi), Lisu (called fulu), and Lahu (called naw) peoples of the upland regions of northern ThailandJaw harp (called chongnong (จ้องหน่อง) in central Thailand and huen (หืน) in northeast Thailand) - played primarily among ethnic minorities of northern Thailand, as well as by the people of the Isan region of northeast ThailandPi (ปี่) - quadruple- or double-reed oboePi chanai (ปี่ไฉน) - possibly derived from the Indian shehnaiPi chawa (ปี่ชวา) - used to accompany Muay ThaiPi klang (ปี่กลาง)Pi mon (ปี่มอญ) - large double-reed oboe with detachable metal bell; used for funeral musicPi nai (ปี่ใน) - standard leading instrument used in the piphat ensemblePi nok (ปี่นอก)Trae (แตร) - metal hornSang (สังข์) - conch shell horn; also called trae sang (แตรสังข์) or SangkhlaThai fanfare trumpet - used only in royal ceremoniesTraditional Thai musical instruments also are classified into four categories, by the region of Thailand in which they are used.
Saw sam saiSaw duangSaw uJakheKhluiPiRanat ekRanat thumKhong wong yaiKhong wong lekThon rammanaGlong khaekGlong songnaHuen - This drum is shaped like a drum that is used in the puangmangkog set. It is always played with a piphat ensemble.Khaen - mouth organWot - a circular panpipe made of 6-9 various lengths of small bamboo pipes. Play by holding between the hands, and while rotating, blow downwards into the pipes.(mai-ruak or mai-hia, mai-ku-khan)
Phin - a fretted, plucked lutePong lang - log xylophone played by two players with hard stick. Its shape is like a xylophone consisting of 15 wooden bars stringed togetherJakhe (Kabue) - one of the important instruments in the mahori khamen ensemble. It has three stringsGrajabpi - The krachappi is a plucked stringed instrument. Its turtle shape sound box is made of jackfruit woodSaw kantruem - a bowed string instrument with a wooden soundbox, the head of which is covered with snakeskin.Glong kantruem - a single-headed drumPi salai - a double-reed oboe accompanied with kantrum ensembleKrap khu - a pair of hard wooden bars two pairs made a set, played with both hands as percussion in "Kantruem ensemble".Salo - a bowed fiddle with three strings and a free bow. The resonator is made of coconut shell cut off on one side.Sueng - is a plucked string instrument, made of teak or hardwood. A round sound hole is cut on the top soundboard.Khlui - The same as the Central Thai khlui.Pi chum (called pi so in northern Thailand) - a free reed pipe made of bamboo, with a single metal reedPi nae - a double reed oboe that resembles the saranai or chani but larger in size; it is made of wood and usually accompanies the large gong.Phin phia - or sometimes simply called "pia" or "phia". The body is made from a coconut shell.Glong teng thing - Klong Teng-thing is a two faced tabular drum and used as one of percussive instrument.Talotpot - or Malotpot is a two-faced tubular drum of 100 centimeters long.Glong tingnong - The biggest and longest drum with one face made of hide about 3–4 metres long.Glong sabat chai - The most famous drum in northern, hanging on the double wooden bars carried by menThap - The goblet-shaped drum used for providing the changes of rhythm and also for supporting rhythm of the Nora (Southern dance drama).Glong nora - Klong nora or Klong nang: a barrel-shaped drum used to accompany the Nora dance or the Nang talung (Shadow puppet) performanceMong ching - Mong and Ching: two important percussion instruments used for accompanying the Nora dance (dance drama) and the Nang talung (shadow puppet) performance.Khong khu - pair of small bossed gongs suspended horizontally in a wooden box; used in theater music and music of southern ThailandPi - a quadruple-reed oboe type with six finger holes producing at least three octaves of pitches range.Trae phuang - Trae phuang or Krap phung: a percussion used to provide rhythmic punctuation of the Nora ensemble. 
