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Pi Joom, Pi So, or Pi Chum

The pi joom, pi so, or pi chum is a single free reed pipe found in a variety of forms throughout Thailand. The Lanna people of Northern Thailand play the pi joom in a set of four of varying lengths. The Poothai people of Northeast Thailand play a single pi in combination with drums. Throughout Thailand this instrument is endangered, except for the Lanna pi joom, which is taught at traditional music programs in the Chiang Mai music academies along with many other traditional instruments from the region. Although the pi joom is related to the Chinese bawu, it is blown by putting the top end of the instrument in the mouth at an oblique angle to cover the reed, much like the dja mblai of Vietnam.

Country: Thailand
Region: Asia
Type: Free-reed

Pi joom - free reed pipe from Thailand
©  R. Raine-Reusch, May 2002