[1] It is based on the Chinese guzheng and is similar to the Japanese koto, Mongolian yatga, Vietnamese đàn tranh, Sundanese kacapi and Kazakh jetigen.

According to the Samguksagi (1146), a history of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, the gayageum was developed around the sixth century in the Gaya confederacy by King Gasil (also known as Haji of Daegaya) after he observed an old Chinese instrument Guzheng.

He ordered a musician named Wu Ruk to compose music that could be played on the instrument.

This type of gayageum has a wider spacing between the strings and plays slower-tempo music such as Yeongsan hoesang and Mit-doduri.

[2] Brass strings have also been introduced to produce a louder sound, which is preferred for accompanying dance.

[4] To play modern music, gayageum with a greater number of strings have been developed, increasing the instrument's range.

When played whilst seated on a chair or stool, the tail end is usually placed on a special fold-out stand, similar to a camp-stool, or another chair/stool.

The people of North Korea usually play whilst seated on a chair, but they do not use a stand of the tail end.

The soundboard is made of paulownia, but the sides and back are of a harder wood such as chestnut or walnut.

Recent archaeological excavations in the Kwangsan areas in Jeolla-namdo Province revealed fragments of a gayageum from around the first century BCE.