The khaen,Khene, is a free-reed,mouth organ of Laos origin whose pipes, which are usually made of bamboo, are connected with a small, hollowed-out hardwood reservoir into which air is blown. Today associated with the Laos people of Laos and Isan of Thailand.

The khaen,Khene, has five different lai, or pentatonic modes with specific drone pitches, organized into two families (thang san and thang yao). The thang san family includes lai sutsanaen (G A C D E), lai po sai (C D F G A), and lai soi (D E G A B), while the thang yao family includes lai yai (A C D E G) and lai noi (D F G A C). Lai po sai is considered to be the oldest of the modes and lai sutsanaen the "Father of the Lai Khaen."[citation needed] Khaen can be played as a solo instrument (dio khene), as part of an ensemble (such as wong pong lang and khaen wong), or as an accompaniment to a Lao or Isan solo singer mor lam.