Tinh tau lute

Tinh tau is a stringed musical instrument very popular among the Tay, Thai and Nung minorities of the northern highlands and some areas of China, Laos and Thailand. Its name describes how it is made: tinh means musical instrument, tau means gourd. Tinh tau means gourd lute because it uses a dry and empty gourd as resonating box.

Tinh tau has a sweet and warm tone. For Thai minorities people, especially the White Thai (in Lai Chau and Son La provinces ), Tinh tau is used to accopaninies parallel love singing and to provide the music for dancing. In this case, the Tinh tau is played only by men. Thai youth also perform Tinh tau supporting melodies to sing or dance music compositions such as solo fantasies.