356 A Comparative Study of Playing Patterns on Gambang and Ranat Ek Instruments Abdul Rachman 1 , Pramot Teangtrong 2 , Phakamas Jirajarupat 2 , Indrawan Nur Cahyono 1 1 Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia 2 Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand Submitted: 2021-07-05. Revised: 2021-11-27. Accepted: 2021-12-26 Abstract Gambang Semarang is one of Indonesia’s traditional music which has an instrument made of wood, namely gambang (xylophone). Thai Pi Phat Ensemble has a Gambang-like instrument called Ranat Ek. In the presentation, each of these instruments certainly has a playing pattern that is characteristic of the music itself. This study aims to identify and describe the pattern of traditional music playing in the Gambang Semarang, especially the Gambang instrument and the traditional music of Thai Pi Phat Ensemble, especially the Ranat Ek instrument. The research meth- od used is qualitative with a musicological approach. Data collection techniques were carried out by using observation, interviews, document studies, and Focused Group Discussions. Data analysis was carried out with the stages of data reduction, data classifcation, and concluding. The results show that the playing pattern of the Gambang instrument in the Gambang Semarang music contains two types of playing patterns, namely sekaran Nglagu and cengkok ajeg. While the playing pattern of the Ranat Ek instrument in the Pi Phat Ensemble consists of kan ti kro, kan ti kep, kan ti siao mue, kan ti sado, and kan ti sabat. The two instruments have similarities and differences in playing patterns which are most likely due to differences in functions and roles in group play. Keywords: Comparison, Playing Pattern, Instrument, Gambang, Ranat Ek How to Cite: Rachman, A., Teangtrong, P., Jirajarupat, P., & Cahyono, I. N. (2021). A Comparative Study of Playing Patterns on Gambang and Ranat Ek Instruments. Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research And Education, 21(2), 356-368 Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education 21 (2) (2021), 356-368 Available online at http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/harmonia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15294/harmonia.v21i2.31037 materials to be useful in musical contexts (Spiller, 2004). Thailand and Indonesia, especially Java, have many basic musical characteris- tics. The background to this large number of similarities is that the two regions be- long to the “gong-chime culture” region of Southeast Asia, which has a characteristic musical ensemble featuring gong-bells- sets of small gongs with knobs, Xylopho- nes (arrangement of logs) instruments, and Metallophones (arrangement of metal INTRODUCTION Southeast Asia is very diverse from a historical, cultural, and political point of view. However, Southeast Asia is con- nected by a common environment, his- tory, and culture (Becker, 2018; Lockard, 1995). Like music, for example, Southeast Asian music is strongly infuenced by en- vironmental and cultural resources. Sout- heast Asian environmental resources such as bamboo, wood, and metal allow these  Corresponding author: E-mail: dulkemplinx@mail.unnes.ac.id p-ISSN 2541-1683|e-ISSN 2541-2426