Đàn nguyệt

The đàn nguyệt also called nguyệt cầm (Chữ Hán: 月琴), đàn kìm, is a two-stringed Vietnamese traditional musical instrument. It is used in folk and classical music and remains popular throughout Vietnam (although during the 20th century, many Vietnamese musicians increasingly gravitated toward the acoustic and electric guitar). It may be descended from the Ruan (Chinese: 阮; pinyin: ruǎn), a Chinese instrument.

The đàn nguyệt's strings, formerly made of twisted silk, are generally made of nylon or fishing line today. They are kept at a reasonably low tension compared to the guitar and other European plucked instruments. This, along with the instrument's raised frets, allows the important bending tones to interpret traditional Vietnamese music correctly. Such bending tones are produced by pressing the string toward the neck rather than bending to the side. The strings are generally plucked with a small plectrum; a plastic guitar pick is often used.