Chakhe

Description

The chakhe is a traditional instrument from South East Asia usually associated with Thai or Khmer music. Originally, this instrument was made in the shape of a crocodile from which its name derives (Thai "chorakhe," meaning crocodile), but its form became more stylized. It is considered to be a floor zither, because it is played while resting on the floor, and it is made from a single piece of carved and hollowed out hardwood (resonator/head and neck/tail) covered in the bottom with a wooden panel. The bottom panel has a carved soundhole and three white plastic feet. There are eleven raised wooden frets (one missing) fixed with glue in a carved groove of the neck, and a higher carved nut/bridge. Three strings of twined fibers are attached to three friction pegs inside of the pegbox, and to a brass hook at the tailpiece section. A metal (brass) bridge might be missing from the instrument.