Construction and playing position
The khaen is held between the hands and air is blown into and sucked through the central wind chest which holds all the pipes. Each pipe contains a small metal reed. When air moves in either direction through the pipe, it escapes through the finger hole and the pipe does not sound. When a finger hole is covered, the pipe sounds. It is therefore possible to play as many as ten notes simultaneously, or more if putty is used to activate drone pipes. The khaen should therefore be considered a polyphonic instrument like the accordion or pipe organ.