Description:
The dan-tranh is a member of the long zither family who includes the
Chinese zheng, the Japanese koto, the Korean Ajaeng & Komungo,
along with the Vietnamese Dan-bau. There is a close resemblance to a
zither called the "Chao Zhou zheng". According to Prof. Dr. Tran Van
Khe the origins of the Dan-Tranh date back from the Tranh Dynasty circa
1225 to 1400. Amongst the Vietnamese people the dan-tranh remains very
popular to this day. This instrument has been transmitted from
generation to generation for more then 700 to 800 years. In the playing
of the dan-tranh the usage of octaves and fifths are common they are
oscillated, through out the performance. The tunings for the dan-tranh
are arranged in the pentatonic scale. When playing the dan-tranh the right hand manipulates the strings to
produce the melody. This is done with the thumb, pointer and the ring
finger. The note bending is achieved by the left land. This allows for
very subtle tones. The sound of the dan-tranh is very pleasing and
bright. The dan-tranh is played on a surface either on a table or
floor. On the right hand the musician wears a finger-nail shaped
plectrum on their thumb. Two other plectrums are worn on the middle
finger and fore finger. Many materials maybe used to make the
finger-nail plectrums ranging from metal, horn, bone, or tortoise shell.| G Major | G-A-C-D-E | |
| D-F-G-A-B | ||
| F Major | Bac Modal |
F-G-A-C-D |
| Bb Major | Ngu Cung Dao |
Bb-C-D-F-G |
| Eb Major | Nam Modal |
Eb-F-G-Bb |
Anatomy of the Dan-Tranh:
The approximate length of the dan-tranh is 110cm and the dan-tranh has
16 to 22 strings. The bridges of the dan-tranh are adjustable and a
string goes through the centre of each bridge so they don't fall off.
The top surface of the dan-tranh is convex and is made from the wootung
tree (a tree Indigenous to Vietnam). The strings are metal in which
they are of a thin gauge and or diameter. Due to the thin gauge of
strings breakage is known to occur. So one must be careful when tuning
or adjusting the strings. The tuners are made from wood and a wooden
tuning aide is often