Morin khuur: the horsehead fiddle
Two strings, a bow and a carved horse head. Meet the instrument that sounds like the steppe.
Quick answer
The morin khuur is Mongolia's horsehead fiddle: a two-stringed instrument with a carved horse head at the top of its neck. It is played upright between the knees with a horsehair bow. Its warm, singing sound is often compared to the wind on the steppe, and players can make it gallop and neigh like a horse.
How it is made
A wooden, trapezoid-shaped body, a long neck without frets and a horse head carved at the top. The strings and the bow were traditionally made of horsehair; many modern fiddles use nylon strings.
How it is played
The player sits and holds the fiddle upright between the knees, a little like a small cello. The fingers usually touch the strings from the side instead of pressing them down onto the neck.
The sound can be slow and singing, or fast and rhythmic, like hooves on the steppe.
The legend of the horsehead fiddle
A well-known story tells of a herder called Namjil the Cuckoo, who had a winged horse that carried him across the steppe to the woman he loved. When the horse died, he made a fiddle from its bones and hair, carved its head at the top, and played to remember it.
A symbol of Mongolia
The morin khuur is often called Mongolia's national instrument. It plays solo, with dancers, with long songs and at celebrations, and UNESCO lists the traditional music of the morin khuur as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Steppe songs to hear next
UYANA's sound pairs her voice with the horsehead fiddle, throat-singing drones and shaman drums.
Mönkh Tal · The Endless Steppe
Inspired by the Mongolian long song (urtyn duu), with long, free-flowing notes.
Read the lyrics and meaning of Mönkh TalSalkhiny Duu · Song of the Wind
A duet between UYANA and a deep male voice, the wind of the steppe.
Read the lyrics and meaning of Salkhiny Duu
Quick questions
What does morin khuur mean?
Morin means horse and khuur is the Mongolian word for a stringed instrument, so morin khuur means horse fiddle.
How many strings does a morin khuur have?
Two, played with a bow.
What does a morin khuur sound like?
Warm and singing, a little like a cello with a soft, breathy edge. Players can also make it gallop and neigh like a horse.