It was very popular and used widely during the times of ancient Persia, especially during the Sasanian Dynasty where it was often played in the shahs' court.

It was also played until the 19th century in the Ottoman Empire but has since disappeared from Turkish folk music.

[2] By becoming more slender, the chang lost much of its rigidity and structural soundness, but gained a portability that made it the primary harp for what would soon become Iran.

[2] The chang is played by plucking the strings with your right hand finger nails or finger picks and using your left hand to apply pressure on the strings to execute glissandos, vibratos, and other embellishments, and occasionally, plucking techniques.

[4] However, the chang is being revived and is now starting to make its way back into the field of contemporary Persian music.