The ajaeng is a Korean string instrument. It is a long zither with seven silk strings, played by means of a long, thin stick made of forsythia wood, which is scraped against the strings in the manner of a bow. It is generally played while seated on the floor. It has a deep tone similar to that of a cello, but more raspy. Some contemporary players prefer to use an actual horsehair bow rather than a stick, believing the sound to be smoother. The instrument is used in court, aristocratic, and folk music, as well as in contemporary classical music and film scores.

The ajaeng is derived from the Chinese yazheng (simplified: 牙筝; traditional: 牙箏).

External links

• Ajaeng page
• http://www.ajaeng.org/

Video

• Ajaeng videos from Robert Garfias site]

See also

• Yazheng
• Korean music

Bowed instruments | String instruments | Heterochord half-tube zithers | Korean musical instruments