Traditional Malaysian Musical Instruments

The same sounds recur behind almost every Malaysian performing art: the beat of goat skin struck in groups at a wedding, the high, plaintive flute that opens a shadow-puppet scene, and the soothing pluck of wooden strings in a Sarawak longhouse. The instruments that make them turn up across many arts articles — so this page gathers them in one place.

What is the most basic Malay drum?

The kompang. According to JKKN records, it is “one of the most basic and popular traditional Malay drum instruments”. Its frame is made of hollowed-out wood, its surface is covered with goat skin, and the skin’s tension is kept in place with rattan cords.

Playing it is simple but disciplined: one hand holds the back while the other strikes the surface, whether sitting or standing. It produces two sounds — “pak” (an open palm in the centre) and “bung” (closed fingers at the edge). The kompang is rarely played solo; its strength comes from layered group play.

The kompang is believed to be the result of cultural assimilation brought by Arab and Persian traders to the Malay world around the 15th century, during the era of the Malacca Malay Sultanate.

How do the kompang, rebana and gendang differ?

All three are drums, but their roles and origins differ:

Instrument	Main materials	Origin / historical reference	Typical role
Kompang	Wooden frame, goat skin, rattan cords	Arab/Persian influence, 15th century	Processions, weddings, celebrations
Rebana keras	Hardwood (teak/meranti), goat or cow skin	Middle East, introduced around the 13th century	Religious events such as Maulidur Rasul
Gendang	Jackfruit wood (body ~60 cm), cow/buffalo/goat skin, rattan	JKKN records link it to the indigenous peoples of Sabah	Customary ceremonies, festivities, healing rituals

The rebana keras is a large drum introduced to Malay society around the 13th century, when Islam began to spread through the Malay Archipelago, and it is often played in groups together with the serunai and gendang. The gendang, in the JKKN records from Sabah, is played with three striking techniques — the palm (a bass sound), the fingertips at the edge (a high note) and a slap on the rim of the drum (a sharp note) — usually following a cycle of 4 or 8 beats.

What is the wind instrument that carries the melody?

The serunai — a woodwind instrument with a high, plaintive sound. In the Kedah Nobat, it is called “the only woodwind instrument” and serves as the main carrier of the tune. Its most distinctive feature is the circular breathing technique (circular breathing), which allows the player to produce a continuous sound without a break. In the Nobat ensemble, the serunai is played together with the gendang, gong, nafiri and nahara.

What is the well-known Bornean traditional instrument?

The sape — a string instrument of the Orang Ulu community in Sarawak, particularly the Kenyah, Kayan and Kelabit peoples. It is carved from a single piece of whitish wood, about one metre long and 40 centimetres wide. The original sape had only two rattan strings and three frets; the modern version has five strings with adjustable wooden frets.

Originally the sape was played in healing ceremonies in the longhouse, with melodies said to be inspired by dreams. Today it is plucked while sitting cross-legged to accompany dances such as the Ngajat (a warrior dance) and Datun Julud.

What’s next

• See how these instruments come alive in performance: Wayang Kulit and Mak Yong use the serunai and gendang, while Dikir Barat and Joget and Zapin are built on drum rhythms.
• For Bornean context, read Ngajat — the dance accompanied by the sape.
• Check the full record of each instrument on the JKKN Cultural Mapping Portal (links in the sources list) for state-level details and local variations.