The kempul is a set of pitched,[1] hanging, knobbed gongs, often made of bronze, wood, and cords.

"[2] "The role of the kempul is to divide the nongans, which are the contents of each part between strikes of a kenong.

"[6] "In the middle of the gamelan, the 'skeletal' melody called the balungan is played on bronze metallophones.

In all the central Javanese traditions, the pieces known as Ayak-ayakan, Srepegan, and Sampak are united by a single relationship between kempul and kenong: one kempul beat coinciding with every second kenong beat.

"[1] "These two tuning systems[2] are called slendro and pelog, thus the full gamelan is actually a double set.