The rows can be as few as four or as many as eight. An adept player is able to produce a churning, calliope-like music that is quite danceable. In more elaborate ensembles the khui and khon wong may be added, as well as various hand drums. Khaen music can also incorporate a vocalist. Most Lao pop music is based on vocal khaen music.
Melodies are almost always penratonic, i.e., they feature five-note scales.
Maw lam is difficult to translate but means something like 'master, or priest, of dance'. Performances always feature a witty, topical combination of talking and singing that ranges across themes as diverse as politics and sex. There are four basic types of maw lam. All types of maw lam are most commonly performed at temple fairs and on other festive occasions. You can also commonly hear maw lam khuu and maw lam dio on Lao or northeastern Thai radio stations.