PHILIPPINE

NATIVE MUSICAL

INSTRUMENTS

A palendag is a type of Philippine bamboo flute of the Maguindanaon people. For the
Maguindanaon, the palendag was used for intimate gatherings for families in the evening.

The kutiyapi, or kudyapi, is a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. It is four to six feet long
with nine frets made of hardened beeswax. The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such
as that from the jackfruit tree.
The octavina is a guitar-shaped Filipino instrument. Originally a Spanish instrument, the octavina
was soon incorporated into other cultures, notably including Filipino culture.

The agung is a set of two wide-

rimmed, vertically suspended gongs
used by the Maguindanao, Maranao,
Sama-Bajau and Tausug people of the
Philippines as a supportive instrument
in kulintang ensembles.

The gandingan is a Philippine set of four large,

hanging gongs used by the Maguindanao as part
of their kulintang ensemble. When integrated into
the ensemble, it functions as a secondary melodic
instrument after the main melodic instrument,
the kulintang. When played solo, the gandingan
allows fellow Maguindanao to communicate with
each other, allowing them to send messages or
warnings via long distances.
The kulintang is the Maguindanao, Ternate and Timor term for the idiophone of metal gong
kettles which are laid horizontally upon a rack to create an entire kulintang set. It is played by
striking the bosses of the gongs with two wooden beaters.

A gambang is a xylophone-like
instrument used among peoples of the
southern Philippines. The bars of the
instrument are made of wood, generally
teak. A pair of long thin mallets, made
of flexible water buffalo horn tipped
with felt, are used to play the
instrument.

The kulintang a tiniok is a type of

Philippine metallophone with eight tuned
knobbed metal plates strung together via
string atop a wooden antangan (rack).
Kulintang a tiniok is a Maguindanaon
term meaning kulintang with string.
This is considered a relatively recent
instrument and surprisingly many of
them are only made of tin-can. It is used
only for self-entertainment purpose in
the home, to train beginners on new
songs before using the kulintang.

The babandil is a single, narrow-rimmed

Philippine gong used primarily as the
timekeeper of the Maguindanao kulintang
ensemble. Babendils are struck either at the
flange or the rim, using either bamboo betays or a
strip of rattan, producing a sharp, distinctive
metallic clang and are sometimes considered
false gongs.
 The Agung a Tamlang is a type of Philippine slit
drum made of hollowed out bamboo in imitation
of the real agung. Pitch is determined by the
length and depth of the slit. The agung a tamlang
is used as practice for the real agung: players
either use either one agung a tamlang (hold it
with one hand and using the other to strike it with
a beater) or using two agung a tamlangs where
the other agung is held with ones feet.

The dabakan is a single-headed Philippine drum,

primarily used as a supportive instrument in the
kulintang ensemble. Among the five main
kulintang instruments, it is the only non-gong
element of the Maguindanao ensemble.

The kagul is a type of Philippine bamboo

scraper gong/slit drum of the
Maguindanaon and Visayans with a jagged
edge on one side, played with two beaters,
one scarping the jagged edge and the other
one making a beat. The Maguindanaon and
the Banuwaen use it in the rice paddies to
guard against voracious birds, using the
sound it produces to scare them away. The
Maguindanaon and the Bukidnon also use it
for simple dance rhythms during
 social occasions.

A sulibao is a conical tenor drum played by the

Bontoc and Ibaloi people of the Philippines. It is
played with the palms of both hands. It usually
appears as part of an ensemble along with the
kimbal, pinsak, kalsa and palas. Sulibao is made
from a hollowed out log covered with deer skin.

The kubing is a type of Philippine jaw harp from bamboo found among the Maguindanaon and
other Muslim and non-Muslim tribes in the Philippines. The kubing is traditionally considered an
intimate instrument, usually used as communication between family or a loved one in close
quarters.