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The zither is a stringed instrument made from a single bamboo

section, around three to four inches in diameter, with a node at


each end. Serving as strings, however, are raised narrow strips of
the outer skin fibers of the bamboo itself, with the ends still
attached to the body of the instrument. Small wedges are placed
beneath the strings to produce different tensions – and thus
varying pitches – as the player plucks the strings.
Variations of the zither can be found all over the country,
like the Ilongot kolesing or the Ibaloi kalshang, the Negrito
pas-ing and Ifugao patting; in the central Philippines, the
Tagbanua play the pa’gang, while the Mangyan have the
kudlung. The southern zither is called tawgaw (Bagobo).
Other bamboo instruments are plucked like string instruments.
Among these are the pas-ing of the Apayao and the tabungbung
of the Negritos. Other groups from many parts of the Philippines
have a similar instrument. These two instruments have an
interesting feature: the strings which are made of thin strips of
bamboo still attached to the main body raised by small wooden
bridges for ease in plucking them. The main body is a piece of
bamboo cut with both ends closed by the node. These bamboo
instruments produce short, detached sounds that are distinctly
different from the twangy sounds of the guitar.
The zither is classified under string instrument. It is made from a single bamboo
section with three to four inches in diameter. The strings used are the narrow strips
of the outer part of the bamboo itself raised by small wedges beneath.

Varying pitches are derived because of these wedges.

The bamboo zither are found all over the country with different names. Ilongots call
it kolesing; Ibalois, kalshang; negritoes, pas-ing and Ifugaos call it patting.
The Tagbanuas call it pa’gang, while the Mangyans call it kudlung. The Bagobos call
it tawgaw.

It is also known as kuliteng.

Here is a picture of a bamboo zither.


Pas –ing >>a piece of bamboo (like a stick) is used to beat
the string to play a pas-ing with the right hand while the
left hand holds the pas-ing. The pas-ing has a light and
thin tone color.
Bamboo skin is used as strings in pas-ing. The tone color
of the pas-ing varies according to the height and width of
the bamboo used. The shorter and thinner the body of
pas-ing, the lighter and thinner is the tone color.

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