Musicians in Thailand play
two different versions of a stringed instrument known as a saw. In both
cases, the musician holds the saw vertically in his lap and places the
bow between the two strings. How the bow is tilted affects the sound as the
bigger inner string has a lower pitch. There are no frets but where along the
neck the musicians presses the strings also determines pitch.
 |
| Carved detail on back side |
The Saw U is the
larger of the two versions of this instrument. The bottom part is often made of
a large coconut shell or gourd, with the end cut off and a piece of goat or
calfskin stretched across. The back is
carved in a pattern which is not only decorative but also allows the sound to
escape through many holes. The Saw U produces a lower, more mellow tone
than other saws.
No comments:
Post a Comment