Kempyang and ketuk

Ladrang form on the phrase making/colotomic instruments with balungan line. # = saron and slentem, p = kempyang, t = ketuk, ⋅ = pause, N = kenong, P = kempul, GONG = gong ageng

The kempyang and ketuk are two instruments in the gamelan, generally played by the same player, and sometimes played by the same player as the kenong. They are important beat-keepers in the colotomic structure of the gamelan. Depending on the structure, they play different, repeating patterns every gongan. Not all structures use the kempyang, but the kempyang is never played without the ketuk.

They are shaped like bonang, but are generally placed in their own frame (rancak). The kempyang is pitched higher (about one octave, although it depends if they are in the pelog or slendro set. Both have a central boss like the bonang, but the kempyang has a rounder top (like the higher bonangs), while the ketuk has a flat top (like the lower bonangs).

In the common numerical notation, kempyang strokes are marked by "-" while the ketuk is marked by "+". The ketuk pattern is used to classify longer gendhing types, where it refers to the number of ketuk strokes in a nongan.

Further reading

• Titon, Jeff Todd, Timothy Cooley, and David Locke. Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples. Belmont: Clark Baxter, 2009.

Gamelan
Theory	Pelog Slendro Pathet Cengkok Seleh Sekaran Imbal & kotekan Gatra Colotomy Gendhing structures Irama Gamelan notation
Genres & ensembles	Gamelan angklung Gamelan bebonangan Gamelan beleganjur Gamelan degung Gamelan gadhon Gamelan gambang Gamelan gender wayang Gamelan gong gede Gamelan gong kebyar Gamelan jegog Gamelan joged bumbung Gamelan munggang Gamelan salendro Gamelan sekaten Gamelan selunding Gamelan semar pegulingan Gamelan siteran Gamelan surakarta
Musicians	Evan Ziporyn Gamelan Sekar Jaya Gamelan Son of Lion I Nyoman Windha K. P. H. Notoprojo List of U.S. gamelan ensembles Michael Tenzer
Instruments	Colotomic or phrase-making Kempyang Ketuk Kempul Kenong Gong Gong ageng Balungan or melody Saron peking Saron panerus Saron barung Saron demung Slentem Slentho Bonang barung Bonang panerus Bonang panembung Panerusan or elaborating Gender Gender panerus Gambang Siter Celempung Suling Rebab Unpitched Kendang gending Kendang ciblon Kendang ketipung Bedug Kecer Kemanak Kepyak Vocals and clapping Gerongan Sindenan Pesinden Alok Senggakan Keplok