Janggu Online: Korean Drum Pads
The janggu (장구) is the hourglass drum of Korean traditional music. Its low head, gungpyeon (궁편), is played with the hand or a round-headed mallet called gungchae; the high head, chaepyeon (채편), is played with a thin bamboo stick, the yeolchae. Koreans learn rhythms by saying each stroke out loud as a syllable, the gueum (구음).
How to use it
- Tap the pads with your fingers (several at once) or click them with the mouse.
- On a computer: F 덩, D 쿵, J 덕, K 기덕, L 더러러. Left hand on D and F, right hand on J, K and L. Esc or Stop all silences everything.
- Press Record session, play a rhythm and press Finish recording. Then use Replay or Clear session.
- Pick a stroke under Target, press Start practice and Hear target; the page tells you whether you hit the right pad. Next target picks another one.
- Volume is under Settings.
Help and explanations
This janggu online has one pad for each of the five basic strokes: 덩 Deong (both heads together), 쿵 Kung (low head), 덕 Deok (high head), 기덕 Gideok (a light grace stroke right before deok) and 더러러 Deoreoreo (a short roll on the high head). The drum sound is synthesized on your device. You can record a session, play it back and train your ear with a target stroke.
Three jangdan to start with
A jangdan (장단) is a rhythmic cycle in Korean music. Semachi jangdan (세마치장단) has three beats, each split into three, and is spoken 덩 덩 덕 쿵 덕 (deong deong deok kung deok). Folk songs such as Miryang Arirang and Doraji Taryeong use it.
Gutgeori jangdan (굿거리장단) has four beats, each split into three. The gueum most teachers use is 덩 기덕 쿵 더러러러 | 쿵 기덕 쿵 더러러러; play the 더러러러 on the 더러러 pad (L key). Nilliriya is a well-known song in gutgeori.
Jajinmori jangdan (자진모리장단) also has four beats but runs much faster; Gyeongbokgung Taryeong is a familiar example. Its syllables vary between textbooks, so follow the score from your lessons.
Practice with a metronome
Open the online metronome in another tab at a slow tempo, one click per beat, and lock the jangdan to it. Speed up a little at a time. To steady your pulse, try the rhythm trainer too.
Tips
- Start semachi with only 덩 and 덕, then add the 쿵.
- Record and listen back: you will hear right away which beat is rushing.
- Turn off Highlight target and name the stroke by sound alone.
- Stick technique for the yeolchae and gungchae is best learned on a real janggu with a teacher.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play the janggu with a computer keyboard?
F is 덩, D is 쿵, J is 덕, K is 기덕 and L is 더러러. The letter is shown small on each pad. Esc stops everything.
What is the difference between 덩, 쿵 and 덕?
덩 (deong) strikes both heads together, 쿵 (kung) only the low head and 덕 (deok) only the high head. 기덕 and 더러러 are ornaments on the high head.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, right in the browser with nothing to install, and you can play with several fingers at once.
Can I download or share my recording?
No. The recording is for listening back on this page, up to 3 minutes, and it is gone when you close or reload.