Vietnam
Vietnamese

Wood, steel strings, metal
Mid – Late 20th century
Length: 43.5 in
Chordophones – Zithers

This dan tranh (dan thap luc) is a sixteen-string board zither from Vietnam and they are believed to have originated from the ancient capital city of Hue.  Each of the sixteen steel strings has a moveable bridge (nhan) and are tuned to the pentatonic scale.  At one end the strings pass throw and are wrapped around a protruding perpendicular wooden tuning peg.  At the other end near the tailpiece, they pass over a bridge and through a hole where they are attached to metal hooks. 

The dan tranh is played by plucking the strings with the fingernail or by using plectras attached to the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. The dan tranh has mostly been seen performed by female musicians in Vietnamese traditional dress (Ao Dai). When played, the instrument is placed in front of the musician, who uses her right hand to regulate the pitch and vibrate, while plucking the strings with her left hand.

Dan is the Vietnamese prefix meaning ‘stringed instruments,’ which is part of the name of most Vietnamese traditional string instruments.