Mouth Violin Kni Fretless
€64.34
Mouth Violin Kni Chromatic
Price:
€72.99
Mouth Violin Kni Chromatic
The K'ni is a mouth-resonating string instrument from the Giaray people of Vietnam, played by drawing a bamboo bow across a single string while using the oral cavity as a resonance chamber. Unlike simpler mouth-bow designs that produce a single pitch, this chromatic version features eight frets, allowing you to select different pitches across a wider range than traditional single-note instruments of this family.
How the K'ni is played
A small round plate at one end of the string is positioned behind your teeth during play. As you draw the bamboo bow across the string, you control pitch by pressing the string against the frets with your finger or hand. The sound itself is then shaped by changing the volume and shape of your mouth cavity, which acts as the primary resonator. This dual method of pitch selection and tonal modulation — one through the frets, the other through oral articulation — distinguishes the K'ni from instruments that rely on either mechanism alone.
Construction and materials
The instrument is made from bamboo, a material that provides both structural lightness and acoustic properties suited to the bow-and-string design. The bamboo bow requires treatment with rosin before use to generate sufficient friction against the string; rosin is not included with the instrument but is a standard consumable for any bowed string instrument.
What's included
- The K'ni with eight chromatic frets
- Traditional bamboo bow
- Protective bag
A horsehair bow is available as an optional accessory for players who wish to explore alternative bow materials.
Getting started
Before your first session, apply rosin to the bamboo bow by drawing it along the bow hair several times until a light coating builds up. This roughened surface allows the bow to grip the string effectively. Begin with light, even pressure and experiment with different mouth shapes and volumes to hear how the resonance changes the timbre and harmonic content of each fretted pitch.
The K'ni remains an active instrument in Giaray musical practice and has gained interest among world music performers and experimental composers exploring extended vocal and instrumental techniques.
Price:
€72.99
Mouth Violin Kni Chromatic — A Vietnamese mouth bow with eight chromatic frets that transforms your mouth into a resonance chamber, allowing a full range of pitches beyond traditional single-note designs. The bamboo bow draws across the string while you shape your oral cavity to modulate timbre and harmonics — producing a voice somewhere between violin and human breath. Built for both ceremonial performance and contemporary world music, meditation soundscapes, and experimental composition. Includes protective transport pouch and bamboo bow; apply rosin before playing.
| Origin | Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0,45 kg |
| Dimensions | 73,0 cm |
| Materials | Bamboo |
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!
Mouth Violin Kni Chromatic
The K'ni is a mouth-resonating string instrument from the Giaray people of Vietnam, played by drawing a bamboo bow across a single string while using the oral cavity as a resonance chamber. Unlike simpler mouth-bow designs that produce a single pitch, this chromatic version features eight frets, allowing you to select different pitches across a wider range than traditional single-note instruments of this family.
How the K'ni is played
A small round plate at one end of the string is positioned behind your teeth during play. As you draw the bamboo bow across the string, you control pitch by pressing the string against the frets with your finger or hand. The sound itself is then shaped by changing the volume and shape of your mouth cavity, which acts as the primary resonator. This dual method of pitch selection and tonal modulation — one through the frets, the other through oral articulation — distinguishes the K'ni from instruments that rely on either mechanism alone.
Construction and materials
The instrument is made from bamboo, a material that provides both structural lightness and acoustic properties suited to the bow-and-string design. The bamboo bow requires treatment with rosin before use to generate sufficient friction against the string; rosin is not included with the instrument but is a standard consumable for any bowed string instrument.
What's included
- The K'ni with eight chromatic frets
- Traditional bamboo bow
- Protective bag
A horsehair bow is available as an optional accessory for players who wish to explore alternative bow materials.
Getting started
Before your first session, apply rosin to the bamboo bow by drawing it along the bow hair several times until a light coating builds up. This roughened surface allows the bow to grip the string effectively. Begin with light, even pressure and experiment with different mouth shapes and volumes to hear how the resonance changes the timbre and harmonic content of each fretted pitch.
The K'ni remains an active instrument in Giaray musical practice and has gained interest among world music performers and experimental composers exploring extended vocal and instrumental techniques.
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