Khaen Master Sombat Simlah playing Lai Soi

Legendary blind khaen player Sombat Simlah from Ban Wang Hai, Borabue District, Maha Sarakham Province, Isaan, Thailand, playing Lai Soi.

Of the five lai (Lai Yai, Lai Noi, Lai Sootsanaen, Lai Po Sai and Lai Soi) - or melodic modes - for khaen in Isaan and Lao, Lai Soi is probably the less used one, and it seems that many players, even really good ones, show some insecurity in this mode. No so for Sombat Simlah however, who really shows his amazing sense of both rhythm and melody in this strong, hypnotic lai soi groove!

Khaen aficionados might notice that Sombat on this recording is playing on a G minor instrument of Lao origin, made by Somdee in Vientiane, Laos.

The video was recorded in May 2011 with a Canon PowerShot S80.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• khaen
• khene
• mor
• lam
• maha
• sarakham
• borabue
• isaan
• lai
• soi
• sombat
• simlah
• simla
• somdee

[BLOVETAL]

อาจารย์สมบัติตั่วเนี่ย

[momayza09]

ลายสร้อย

[MawlumMawkhaenFarang]

@Jetda9999 In Ubon they call Lai Soi "Lai Tid Sood." This khaen solo is indeed Lai Soi. When the high or low octave of D is covered and B is a dominant note in the mode along with E and G, it is Lai Soi. When F and C are played then it becomes Lai Noi. Lai Soi and Lai Noi can be played together when the kisoot is applied. One does not need to apply any kisoot to play any of the modes as demonstrated in my video where I play all the Lai khaen modes without any kisoot.

[Jetda9999]

This is Lai Tid Sood (ลายติดสูตร), not Lai Soi. You can see he closed 2 holes on the right hand side.

[MawlumMawkhaenFarang]

Ask Sombat if he can play Khap styles from Laos. Most khaen players from Isaan do not know all the different styles in Laos. Nonetheless Sombat is still an awesome khaen player. His style is easy to listen to. It is also easy to learn and copy. That is why a lot of khaen players follow his style.