1. By: Dian Tresna Nugraha München, 23.08.2003
Pola-pola Dasar Kacapi Pamirig Kawih Basic Kacapi Keyings for Kawih Accompaniment part A
By: Dian Tresna Nugraha
München,

2. Introduction Kawih = Sundanese term for ‘song’
Kacapi siter is used for our purpose. It has 20 strings. Farthest string (lowest frequency) is tuned to 3 and nearest string (highest frequency) is tuned to 4. (scroll to some more slides to see it’s picture)
Suling Sunda is 6 holed bamboo flute.
Pangkat is ‘the opening’ or start of kawih. It is selected based on the goong key (number in circle).
Pancer is intermediate tone between two keys, e.g. between goong key and kenong key.
Panutup is ‘the ending’. (or ‘suwuk’ in Javanese)
60 cm

3. Notation Note range, from lowest frequency to highest frequency is:
trewq
Degung notation is used.
1 (da), 2 (mi), 3(na), 4(ti), and 5(la)
It is a subset of pelog 7 tone system (see table 1).
Sundanese Degung
Javanese Pelog
1 (da) 6
2 (mi) 5
3 (na) 3
4 (ti) 2
5 (la) 1

4. Tuning Kacapi is tuned to match the suling tones.
Suling tones are fixed to its length in 60 cm length.
With this length, approximation for the tuning is t r e w q  A# B c# f f#

5. 5 (la) I II Pangkat for key-5 is: 32 1 5 5 g5 left pointer
kenong
pancer
pancer
g Gnn g5 _
pangkat I II
Pangkat for key-5 is: g5
I and II are repeatable parts. The sample music plays pangkat continued directly with I and then after slight silent, II is played.
2-nd pancer is not yet unknown due to unknown kenong key.
left pointer
left thumb
right pointer
right thumb

6. 4 (ti) Pangkat for key-4 is .31 2 4 4 g4
pancer
g G g4 _
pangkat I II
5 (la) positions
Pangkat for key-4 is g4
Dashed circles are positions in key-5.
Similar to key-5, I and II are repeatable parts.

7. 3 (na)
pancer
G g3 _ I II
Due to rarely be used as goong key, the key-3 might have no pangkat at all.
Pancer for key 3 is 2.
5 (la) positions

8. 2 (mi) I II 5 (la) positions pancer 54 3 w w w gw . q . Gn. . . . gw _
pangkat I II
5 (la) positions

9. 1 (da) I II 5 (la) positions pancer 53 4 q q q gq . q . G. . . . gq _
pangkat I II
5 (la) positions

10. Pangkat variations for 5 (la)
Variant I
Variant II
left pointer
left thumb
right pointer
right thumb

11. Pangkat variations for 2 (mi)
Variant I
Variant II
left pointer
left thumb
right pointer
right thumb

12. Sekar Alit
Sekar Alit is a small accompaniment set for typical Sundanese songs (kawih).
contains several key sequences, and played repeatedly.
might have specific name, e.g. Catrik, Kulu-kulu, etc.
There are two types, two keyed and four keyed.
The two keyed:
Name
Keys
Kawih example(s)
Catrik
2 g5
Dareuda, Kalangkang
Kulu-kulu
5 g2
Angin Priangan, Satia
Lalayaran
3 g5

13. Sekar Alit (continued)
In the case name is unknown (n.n. = no name), Sekar Alit is mentioned by it’s keys, e.g. one singer might ask you, “Please play !”
The four keyed:
Name
Keys
Kawih example(s)
Cirebonan
4 5 1 g2
Jeruk manis
Balenderan
4 5 4 g2
n.n.
1 3 1 g4
Nimang
2 4 2 g5
Cinta
3 4 3 g1
Elekesekeng

14. Catrik : 2 g5
g Gw g5 _
pangkat
5-I
2-II
2-I
5-II
Catrik in ancient language means ‘to study’. Indeed, it’s the simplest form and the most widely used pattern when one starts learning Degung.
The goong key is 5, thus we use pangkat for 5 and ending for 5.
Kenong key is filled with 2.

15. end of slide ;)