Phin: A Lute of the Isan Region of Thailand

Abstract

The phin is a lute that originated in Thailand's Isan region. The strings 1, 2, and 3 for the phin is E4, A3, and E3. It was tuned to the key of G major.  The strings 1, 2, and 3 running notes are E4, F4, F4#, G4, A4, B4, C5, D5, E5, F5, G5, A5, B5, C6, D6, and E6; A3, A3#, B3, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, A4#, C5, D5, E5, F5, G5, and A5; and E3, F3, F3#, G3, A3, B3, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4, C5, and D5, respectively. The keys F4#, B3, and F3# appear in the first octave only from strings 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In this study, the sound was analyzed with a PicoScope oscilloscope and Adobe Audition. The equation for the polynomial (i.e., the fret number versus the partial frequency) for open strings 1, 2, and 3 is y_string1 = 3.14x² + 9.10x + 316.07, y_string2 = 2.15x² + 5.51x + 214.55, and y_string3 = 1.51x² + 6.53x + 146.24. The changes in frequency (the multiplication factor of the x²) increased gradually with the pitch. Strings 3 (E3), 2 (A3), and 1 (E4) showed the multiplication factor of 1.51, 2.15, and 3.14.