How the phin pia makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the phin pia belongs to the bar zithers: strings are stretched along a rigid bar or stick, often with a gourd resonator.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
The phin pia is a chest-resonated stick zither with two to five strings. It is considered the national instrument of Northern Thailand. Tuning for phin pia: G3, B3, C4 and F4. The one-stringed version (equivalent to the Cambodian kse diev) is called phin namtao.
Other bar zithers
More instruments from Thailand
Frequently asked questions
What does a phin pia sound like?
As one of the bar zithers, its sound comes from the way strings are stretched along a rigid bar or stick, often with a gourd resonator.
What type of instrument is the phin pia?
It is classified as bar zithers (Hornbostel–Sachs 311.221).
Where does the phin pia come from?
The phin pia originates from Thailand.