GEOMUNGO: Korean musical instrument

The geomungo or hyeongeum is a traditional stringed musical instrument from Korea. The musical instrument belongs to the zither family of musical instruments having both bridges and frets. Scholars accept the fact that the name of the musical instrument refers to Goguryeo and interprets to "Goguryeo zither" or that the name of the musical instrument refers to the colour and interprets to "black crane zither".

The musical instrument originated at approximately the 4th century to the 7th century from the kingdom of Goguryeo, which is the northernmost part of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, even though the instrument can be marked out back to the 4th century.

According to the Samguk Sagi, which was written in 1145, the musical instrument was fabricated by Prime Minister Wang San-ak by using the manner of the antique Chinese instrument called guqin. After the death of Wang, the musical instrument was handed down to Ok Bogo, Son Myeong-deuk, Gwi Geum, Cheong Jang, An Jang and Geuk Jong, while the musical instrument is being widely spread over the kingdom.

The musical instrument is just about 162 cm long, having the width of 23 cm, and has flexible bridges known as Anjok and 16 U-shaped frets. The musical instrument has a hollow body where the anterior plate of the musical instrument is manufactured of paulownia wood and the instrument’s back plate is manufactured of hard chestnut wood. The six strings of the musical instrument that are made of warped silk passed through the back plate of the musical instrument. The pick of the instrument is manufactured from bamboo sticks. The stick is made to be  in the size of normal household pencil.

Generally, the geomungo is performed while the player of the musical instrument is seated on the floor. The strings of the musical instrument are plucked with the use of a short bamboo stick known as suldae that is held between the index finger of the hand and middle fingers of the player’s right hand, while the left hand of the player presses on the strings to manufacture different pitches. The most characteristic tuning of the open strings of the musical instrument for the traditional music of Korea is D#/Eb, G#/Ab, C, A#/Bb, A#/Bb, and A#/Bb an octave that is lower than the central tone. The musical instrument is played in traditional court music of the country and the folk patterns of sanjo and sinawi.

Because of the typically percussive sound of the musical instrument and energetic playing pattern of the instrument, the musical instrument is said to a more masculine musical instrument than the 12-string version of gayageum; both instruments, conversely, are mutually played by male and female players.

The Korean-born, U.S. resident player and composer of the musical instrument called Jin Hi Kim plays a custom-produced electric version of geomungo in addition to the actual musical instrument.