Main Traditional Chinese String Instruments

Stringed instruments are instruments that create music as a result of vibrating strings for various reasons. Many people want to learn how to use stringed instruments, as they are more common and easier to play. A substantial part of Chinese history and tradition, music remains popular even today. Like all over the world, China has its instruments. When it comes to Chinese music, uniquely traditional Chinese string instruments come to mind. Traditional Chinese string instruments have a unique sound. They have their design. In addition, stringed instruments are categorized into three classes among themselves. These are tinsel string instruments, string instruments, and percussion string instruments. The most well-known string instruments in China are the Erhu, Chinese zither, Chinese bamboo flute, pipa, guzheng, yangqin, and gauging.

 

 

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About Chinese String Instruments

 

We all know that music is an integral part of the Chinese tradition. For thousands of years, China has preserved its musical culture by passing it on from generation to generation. Despite having an old musical culture, musical instruments produce truly magnificent sounds. The most well-known musical instruments in China are stringed instruments. Musical instruments have a unique design. The sound each one makes is different. When you hear the sound of these musical instruments, you can understand that it directly belongs to the Chinese culture because the melodies of the musical instruments make us feel that region and culture.

 

 

 

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What Are The Chinese String Instruments?

 

When Chinese string instruments are named, the following instruments come to mind first.

 

 

 

1.Erhu

 

The Erhu is a traditional Chinese string instrument that has existed for many years. This stringed musical instrument is so substantial to the Chinese people. Erhu consists of 2 strings, pegs, wood, a spring, a nut, and a resonator. The front of the resonator or soundbox is involved with python skin. Because the python skin is elastic, Erhu makes an incredible sound. Thanks to today's developing technology, erhu resonators can now be covered with synthetic leather instead of python skin. No matter how high quality it is, the sound coming out of synthetic leather python skin is different. Thanks to the python leather, a better quality sound is produced. Erhu's bow is usually placed between 2 strings and is played by moving it horizontally on two strings. The sound that comes out of the Erhu is like a violin. Erhu has a higher pitch.

 

 

 

2.Pipa

 

Pipa has a history of nearly two thousand years. Pipa is sometimes called the Chinese lute. The pipa is made of 4 strings, tuning pegs, 12 to 26 frets, and a wooden body. There are varieties of pipa according to the region. The features that make them different from each other are the multiplicity of the curtains and the pear-like body shape. Pipa consists of popular traditional techniques for the left or right hand used to produce different sounds.

 

 

 

3.Ruan

 

Ruan is called Ruanqin in Taiwan. It is another member of the instrument family that has been plucked as much as a lute. It consists of a neck, four tuning pegs, strings, a wooden body, and 24 frets. Ruan has a moon-shaped body. Long ago, threads were made using original silk, but today it is used in steel. Curtains are made using ivory or, for modern ones, metal. The difference between these two materials is that the latter produces a more transparent, louder, and higher-pitched sound.

 

4.Guzheng

 

Guzheng, also known as Zheng, has a long history. When they were produced, some were made using silk threads and bamboo frames. As time progressed, the instrument began to be developed. The strings of the instrument gradually increased from five to thirteen. Today, it has risen to twenty-one. You can create powerful melodies with Guzheng. It usually consists of a 64-inch rectangular body consisting of a head, soundboard, and a tail. The soundboard has 21 strings and 21 bridges. The head is usually closed. You may need to wear fingertips to play the guzheng and produce a louder sound. It only takes eight fingers, four on each side, to play this instrument.

 

5. Guqin

 

Guqin musical instrument is one of the Chinese string instruments with a long history. Guqin is a seven-stringed Chinese string instrument. It is a musical instrument that has been played since ancient times and is traditionally favored by scholars and literati as a sophisticated instrument. Many artists have played the instrument throughout the ages, and the instrument has been a favorite of scholars. Certain melodies are also associated with famous figures such as Confucius and Qu Yuan. It is sometimes said to be referred to by the Chinese as the "father of Chinese music" or the "instrument of the sages".

A guqin musical instrument is an instrument with a range of about four octaves. Another feature is that it is a very quiet instrument, and its open strings are tuned in the bass register. Its lowest pitch is about two octaves below middle C, or the lowest note in the cello. According to tradition, the quqin musical instrument originally had five strings, but there were ancient quqin-like instruments with 10 or more strings. Its modern form has been standardized for nearly two thousand years.

Guqin is often played as a solo instrument because the quietness of its tone means it cannot compete with the sounds of other instruments. In order for an instrument to accompany the quqin, its voice must be soft and not drown out the quqin. Otherwise, a specific synchronization may be difficult to achieve.

 

 

 

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