Dan Bau 110 cm Foldable
€328.07
Dan Bau 120 cm Foldable
Price:
€345.37
Dan Bau 120 cm Foldable
The dan bau is a Vietnamese monochord—a single-string instrument capable of producing a range spanning two octaves through finger pressure on a flexible rod and careful control of plucking and damping. Its expressive potential, achieved with minimal physical apparatus, has made it a distinctive voice in Southeast Asian music and an increasingly visible presence in contemporary world music and film composition.
Construction and Materials
The instrument consists of a dark hardwood body paired with a resonant wooden soundboard, both finished with mother-of-pearl inlay work. These materials are chosen for their acoustic properties and visual character. The body is designed to fold for storage and transport, collapsing without compromising structural integrity or tonal quality.
A passive pickup is built into the instrument, allowing direct connection to an amplifier or effects device via a standard 6.3 mm jack. This addition opens the dan bau to electric amplification and sound processing without requiring external modification.
Playing Technique and Sound
The single steel string is plucked from below using a plectrum or fingernail, then damped with the ball of the thumb. This fundamental action produces the instrument's characteristic bright, harmonic tones. Pitch variation and expressive effects—glissandi, vibrato, and harmonic overtones—are generated by pressing and releasing the flexible rod that supports the string, allowing continuous pitch modulation across the two-octave range.
The position of overtones can be marked on the soundboard beneath the string, providing a visual reference for consistent pitch placement during performance. This marking system is optional but helpful for players developing technique.
Strings and Maintenance
The instrument ships with two plain steel strings, each 0.4 mm in diameter—one installed and one as a replacement. Steel strings ranging from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm (roughly equivalent to guitar string gauges 015 to 030) are compatible with this model. String replacement is straightforward and allows players to experiment with tonal variation based on gauge selection.
What's Included
- Dan Bau 120 cm (pliable design)
- Protective carrying case
- Plectrum
- Replacement steel string (0.4 mm)
Amplification and Sound Design
The integrated passive pickup enables the dan bau to function as an electric instrument. Connection to an amplifier or effects processor opens possibilities for sound design and integration into contemporary music production contexts. For optimal signal, the string should sit directly above the pickup element.
Learning Resources
A comprehensive free online course in English is available through Hamburg Open Online University, covering fundamental technique and repertoire. The course includes a video series that addresses hand position, plucking mechanics, damping control, and pitch navigation—essential material for players new to the instrument.
Access the full course and supplementary video lessons at the Hamburg Open Online University platform, which offers structured instruction in dan bau technique and performance. The instructional videos are also available separately on YouTube as a standalone playlist for reference and review.
The dan bau remains a primary voice in Vietnamese traditional music and continues to expand into global contemporary music, film scoring, and meditative practice.
Price:
€345.37
Dan Bau 120 cm Foldable — This Vietnamese single-string instrument produces a remarkably expressive range from a single steel string, spanning two octaves through finger pressure and a flexible stem that creates glissandi, vibrato, and harmonics. Handcrafted with a dark hardwood body and resonant top, it includes a passive pickup for amplification, a plectre, spare string, and protective case. The foldable design makes it portable without sacrificing the authentic voice that has made the dan bau essential to Southeast Asian music and increasingly popular in contemporary world music, film scoring, and meditation contexts. A monocord that speaks with the expressiveness of the human voice.
Each instrument is a one-of-a-kind creation, shaped by hand and bearing its own character. The photos shown are representative examples — your piece may vary slightly in form, colour or finish.
| Origin | Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3,10 kg |
| Dimensions | 0,7 × 0,3 × 0,1 cm |
| Included | Bag, plectrum, spare string |
| Materials | Wood - Mother-of-pearl |
| Equipment | Passive Pickup |
♪ Audio Samples ♪
Qua Cau Gio Bay
Con Duyen
Caution: Not suitable for children under 3 years. Please supervise older children. Beware of swallowing small parts, strangulation, material allergies, sharp edges and points! Use only for sound generation. No liability for improper use.
Care: Extreme temperature fluctuations, humidity and direct sunlight can affect the lifespan. Please store in balanced humidity to prevent material changes, mold and corrosion. Remove dirt with a damp cloth. Dry after cleaning and each use.
Disposal: Please contact your local waste disposal authority for information on environmentally sound disposal!
Dan Bau 120 cm Foldable
The dan bau is a Vietnamese monochord—a single-string instrument capable of producing a range spanning two octaves through finger pressure on a flexible rod and careful control of plucking and damping. Its expressive potential, achieved with minimal physical apparatus, has made it a distinctive voice in Southeast Asian music and an increasingly visible presence in contemporary world music and film composition.
Construction and Materials
The instrument consists of a dark hardwood body paired with a resonant wooden soundboard, both finished with mother-of-pearl inlay work. These materials are chosen for their acoustic properties and visual character. The body is designed to fold for storage and transport, collapsing without compromising structural integrity or tonal quality.
A passive pickup is built into the instrument, allowing direct connection to an amplifier or effects device via a standard 6.3 mm jack. This addition opens the dan bau to electric amplification and sound processing without requiring external modification.
Playing Technique and Sound
The single steel string is plucked from below using a plectrum or fingernail, then damped with the ball of the thumb. This fundamental action produces the instrument's characteristic bright, harmonic tones. Pitch variation and expressive effects—glissandi, vibrato, and harmonic overtones—are generated by pressing and releasing the flexible rod that supports the string, allowing continuous pitch modulation across the two-octave range.
The position of overtones can be marked on the soundboard beneath the string, providing a visual reference for consistent pitch placement during performance. This marking system is optional but helpful for players developing technique.
Strings and Maintenance
The instrument ships with two plain steel strings, each 0.4 mm in diameter—one installed and one as a replacement. Steel strings ranging from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm (roughly equivalent to guitar string gauges 015 to 030) are compatible with this model. String replacement is straightforward and allows players to experiment with tonal variation based on gauge selection.
What's Included
- Dan Bau 120 cm (pliable design)
- Protective carrying case
- Plectrum
- Replacement steel string (0.4 mm)
Amplification and Sound Design
The integrated passive pickup enables the dan bau to function as an electric instrument. Connection to an amplifier or effects processor opens possibilities for sound design and integration into contemporary music production contexts. For optimal signal, the string should sit directly above the pickup element.
Learning Resources
A comprehensive free online course in English is available through Hamburg Open Online University, covering fundamental technique and repertoire. The course includes a video series that addresses hand position, plucking mechanics, damping control, and pitch navigation—essential material for players new to the instrument.
Access the full course and supplementary video lessons at the Hamburg Open Online University platform, which offers structured instruction in dan bau technique and performance. The instructional videos are also available separately on YouTube as a standalone playlist for reference and review.
The dan bau remains a primary voice in Vietnamese traditional music and continues to expand into global contemporary music, film scoring, and meditative practice.
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