Unapologetically Korean: Traditional Instruments

While K-Pop has become a global commodity, Korean music has not. However, when the two are blended, fans are given a chance to hear traditional Korean instruments that they may not have been exposed to before. These instruments are often the key pieces of the songs that make them so catchy and unforgettable for fans. While countless instruments have made appearances in songs, the gayageum, janggu, and taepyeongso are the most popular instrument choices during the creation of these memorable tracks. 

Gayageum

The gayageum is an instrument most K-Pop fans are familiar with even though they have not known its name as it has made its appearance in quite a few songs. It’s often mistaken by fans for more western stringed instruments like a violin. The gayageum is made out of Paulownia wood. It has 12 strings made from silk and has 12 bridges that can be adjusted to tune the instrument. It’s shaped like a long rectangle and is about 160cm (62in) long and 30cm (12in) wide. It’s played with both the left and right hands, with the left hand pushing down on the strings to change its pitch while the right plucks the strings to create its sound. 

This is what a gayageum looks like. 

Taepyeongso

The taepyeongso is a reeded wind instrument made out of various types of wood. It has eight finger holes, seven on the top and one on the bottom. It’s played similar to the clarinet or oboe. To play, you blow through the mouth piece and then create the melodies by covering and uncovering the different holes for different notes. When listening to K-Pop songs, the taepyeongso is often mistaken for different brass instruments such as a trumpet or a saxophone. For those familiar with historical K-Dramas, this is the instrument that is often heard during royal processions. 

This is what a taepyeongso looks like! 

The taepyeongso can be heard in many recent K-Pop songs like MONSTA X’s “Follow,” Sunmi’s “Lalalay” and Agust D’s “Daechwita.”

Here is a video from the National Gugak Center in Korea that shows the unmixed sound of the Taepyeongso. If listening with headphones, turn your volume down a bit as the sound could hurt some listeners’ ears at higher volumes. 

Check out this kid’s sized janggu! Isn’t it cute? 

Janggu

The last instrument that you'll hear pop in K-Pop is the janggu. This is an instrument many K-Pop fans will recognize. It is a drum with two faces on the left and the right side with the shape similar to an hourglass that has been dumped on its side. Its faces are made of leather and the body is made usually of foxglove trees. The older the tree, the deeper the sound. In addition to the drum faces and wooden hourglass shaped body, it has buckles that allow for tuning to get the best sound. Each side has a different tone; the left side has a deep bass tone and the right side has a treble tone. The janggu is played with a mallet on the left side and a stick on the right. You can either sling it over your shoulder with a strap or sit next to it on the ground. 

The janggu is often part of a samul nori, which is similar to a quartet. It is composed of four different traditional Korean percussion instruments. You may recognize the samul nori sound in BTS’s “Idol” and the dance break from B.A.P’s “No Mercy.” 

To hear what a janggu sounds like alone, you can check out this video of an adorable kid drumming in a performance! 

Final Thoughts

While this is only three instruments, Korea has a vast amount of traditional instruments that bring music to life in a way that is unique to them. Take a moment to appreciate and take in the beginnings of the music K-Pop fans have come to know and love.