Gabbang


Gabbang, also known as bamboo xylophone, is a musical instrument made of bamboo widely used in the southern Philippines. Among the Tausug and Sama, it is commonly played to accompany songs and dances as a solo instrument or accompanied by biola.

Physical Features

A gabbang consists of a set of trapezoidal bamboo bars of increasing length resting on a resonator. The number of bars varies with the group that made them. For Yakan, the number ranges from 3 to 9 bamboo bars but the common agung gabbang has 5. For Tausug, the number ranges from 14 to 22 bamboo bars but the common gabbang has 12. And for Palawan, the common gabbang has 5.

Playing Techniques

A bamboo xylophone is played by direct striking using a wooden mallet. The gabbang is played by a pair of beaters while another taps a rhythmic pattern on the side of the box.