A pair of long thin mallets (tabuh), made of flexible water buffalo horn tipped with felt, are used to play the instrument.

Within a full gamelan, it stands out somewhat because of the high speed of playing, its contrasting timbre due to its materials, and its comaparatively wide melodic range.

However, the repertoire of cengkok for the gambang is more rudimentary than for other instruments (for instance, the gendér), and a great deal of variation is accepted.

The gambang gangsa has a similar construction, although it generally has fewer keys (typically 15) and is thus somewhat smaller.

In early 19th century writings on the Javanese gamelan, it seems to have been played like the gambang kayu; that is, as an elaborating instrument.