Saw sam sai

Infobox Instrument
name= Saw sam sai
names=


classification=
*Bowed string instrument
range=
related=
* Tro KhmerThe "saw sam sai" ( _th. ซอสามสาย; also spelled "saw samsai", and occasionally called simply "sam sai"; literally "three stringed fiddle") is a traditional bowed string instrument of Thailand. Its body is made from a special type of coconut covered on one end with animal skin, and it has three silk strings. Typically, the player glues a jewel onto the skin before playing, to reduce the skin's resonance. ^{[http://www.kingrama2found.or.th/intelligence/choe.jpgphoto]}

The "saw sam sai" is in the "saw" family of Thai fiddles, which also includes the "saw u" and "saw duang.

It is the hardest to play among the 4 types of Thai Saw: Saw U, Saw Duang, and Sa Lor. This is because the bow is not attached, and one must "break" their wrist back and forth to change strings- not tilting the bow. Because of this, it is frequently used as a prop in pictures to show knowledge or a high social status.

It is related to a very similar Cambodian instrument called "tro Khmer".

External links

* [http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Thai/music/classical/instruments/khryang_sii.htm "Saw sam sai" page]
* [http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=%22%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi "Saw sam sai" photos]

ee also

*Traditional Thai musical instruments
*Music of Thailand