How the morin khuur makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the morin khuur belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The morin khuur, also known as the horsehead fiddle, is a traditional Mongolian bowed string instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the nation of Mongolia. The morin khuur is one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity identified by UNESCO.
Other lutes
More instruments from Mongolia
Frequently asked questions
What does a morin khuur sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the morin khuur?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.322-71).
Where does the morin khuur come from?
The morin khuur originates from Mongolia.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q1129422 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Morin khuur – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Brücke-Osteuropa – Public domain