Ranat thum

The ranat thum is a low pitched xylophone belongs to the pitched percussion part in the traditional music of Thailand, given that the word "ทุ้ม (Thum)" means lower pitch. It has 17 wooden bars, which are stretched over a boat-shaped trough resonator. Its shape looks like a ranat ek, but it is lower and wider. It is usually played in accompaniment of a ranat ek in ensembles like several Piphat formations or Mahori, usually with a more gleeful, amusing pattern to support the main melody of ranat ek.

ranat thum bars are typically made from bamboo, although instruments with rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri; Thai: ไม้ชิงชัน; mai ching chan) bars can also be found, though instrument makers say bars made from bamboo sound better and can be heard more clearly when played in an ensemble.