Έγχορδα
KOTO : έχει 13 χορδές και είναι φτιαγμένο από ξύλο. Παίζεται με τα δύο πρώτα δάχτυλα και το αντίχειρα.
SHAMIZEN : όργανο με 3 χορδές. Το τετράγωνο κουτί καλύπτεται με δέρμα ζώου, και οι χορδές γδέρνονται με πένα.
BIWA : a short neck lute, used from the 7 th century in gagaku to accompany the early puppet play and also by blind monk entertainers.
Πνευστά
SHO : a mouth piece organ, the equivalent of the Chinese Sheng.
SHAKUHACHI : a bamboo flute. It has four finger holes on the front and one thumb hole in back.
SHINOBUE : is a vertical flute made from the lower portion of the bamboo stem. The number of the finger holes is traditionally five.
HICHIRIKI : a short cylindrical oboe made of bamboo with seven front fingerholes, and rear thumbholes.
Κρουστά
1. KAKKO : A gagaku instrument that is made up of deer skin.
2.TSURI DAIKO : A suspended drum used in the gagaku ensemble that has a lacquered body and tacked head.
3. DA-DAIKO : A huge gagaku drum suspended on an artistic frame and is struck with heavy lacquered beaters.
DAIKO
kotsuzumi It is an hour glass-shaped drum. It is played by striking the bare hands on the membrane of the instrument.