The kendang is one of the primary instruments used in the gamelan ensembles of Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese music.

The kendang usually has the function of keeping the tempo (laya) while changing the density (irama), and signaling some of the transitions (paralihan) to sections and the end of the piece (suwuk).

Among the Makassarese, the Ganrang (kendang) drums have much more importance, with it considered the most sacred of all musical instruments, comparable to gongs in Java.

These traditions can be seen across lowland South Sulawesi with Bugis people also sharing similar reverence to the Gendrang.

The skin is stretched on y-shaped leather or rattan strings, which can be tightened to change the pitch of the heads.

If the players are standing with the gendrangs tied with a shoulder strap it is called maggendrang tettong, this position are usually used for sacred ceremony, or for entertainment like beating of rice mortars or mappadendang.