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Traditional Korean Musical Instruments

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Gayageum

A 12-string plucked zither, one of Korea's best-known traditional instruments, played by plucking the strings with the fingers while the instrument rests across the player's lap.

Geomungo

A 6-string zither played by striking the strings with a short bamboo stick called a suldae, producing a deeper, more resonant tone than the gayageum.

Haegeum

A two-string bowed instrument, often compared to a fiddle, known for its expressive, slightly nasal tone and central role in traditional court and folk ensembles.

Daegeum

A large bamboo transverse flute with a distinctive buzzing membrane over one hole, producing a rich, resonant sound used in both court and folk music.

Buk

A traditional barrel drum played with a wooden stick, used to keep rhythm in folk performances and traditional percussion ensembles.

Janggu

An hourglass-shaped drum with two heads of different thicknesses, producing two distinct tones and central to Korean traditional percussion music (samulnori).

String, wind, and percussion traditions

Traditional Korean instruments are generally grouped into string instruments like the gayageum and geomungo, wind instruments like the daegeum, and percussion instruments like the buk and janggu, each with a distinct role in court, folk, and ceremonial music.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between gayageum and geomungo?

The gayageum is plucked with the fingers and has a brighter tone, while the geomungo is struck with a stick and produces a deeper, more resonant sound; historically the geomungo was associated with scholars.

What is samulnori?

Samulnori is a percussion genre performed with four traditional instruments β€” usually including janggu and buk β€” known for its energetic rhythms, and is one of the most internationally recognized forms of Korean traditional music.