The garamut is a kind of slit drum made in Papua New Guinea. Carved from a single log, a garamut is beaten with sticks to produce sound from its central cavity. Garamuts have historically played an important cultural role in many Papua New Guinea communities, serving as a means of communication as well as a musical instrument. "Garamut" is a Tok Pisin word meaning "song" and "to silence". This name has become commonly understood throughout the country, although the instrument may have different names in other languages.

Garamuts may have come to New Guinea with the Austronesian peoples. Each takes multiple days to complete, and they are sometimes decorated with intricate and symbolic designs. The rhythms used can convey particular messages for many kilometres. Individuals and clans may have their own identifying patterns.

In some communities garamuts continue to hold cultural value. Their use is often gendered, restricted to men and part of male initiation rituals. An individual garamut often belongs to one individual or family, and some are played only for important events, such as births and deaths. They can be played by one or two people. When used for music, they are prominent in events such as sing-sings.

Garamut is a Tok Pisin word that may also be used to refer to the Vitex cofassus tree. It derives from the Tolai language, where gara means singing or calling out, and i mut means to be quiet and listen. This has also been translated as "song" and "to silence". The name has become used throughout the country. In the Kaian language, garamut are referred to as rumbung, which has a similar meaning of listening in silence. In the Boiken language they are called mie, which also means "tree". In English, the plural garamuts is often used.

Garamuts are a type of slit drum. Each is made from a single tree trunk, hollowed out through carving or burning. The resulting shape can be round, oval, or triangular, with a handle at each end. The kind of tree used can accord certain meanings. Some are made in pairs, with a larger selek and a smaller heik. This results in the larger having a deeper sound with a lower pitch and the smaller having a sharper sound at a higher pitch.

Garamuts can be placed on the ground or suspended in the air. Sounds are made by striking beater sticks near the slit which leads to a large central cavity. This form of making music classifies the garamut a type of idiophone. They are also referred to as slit gongs. A garamut can be played by one or two people.

Specific designs vary from being plain to intricate designs, often varying by locality. Markings on the logs often represent particular clans or sub-clans. The creation process from cutting down a tree to the finished product can take two to three days. Creation sometimes includes magic rites and other traditional practices. The beating sticks are carved from the same tree as the garamut itself. The completion of a garamut is often celebrated with music and food. The correct execution of particular rituals is seen as key to the garamut producing a good sound.

Garamut are found throughout Papua New Guinea, particularly in coastal and island areas. Playing styles differ, with the instruments sometimes being used individually and sometimes being used within a wider ensemble. The sound can be heard for multiple kilometres, and so they are traditionally used for communication as well as for music.