Chinese Instruments

Erhu 二胡

The erhu is a Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument, often known as a Chinese violin. The sound of the erhu is similar to a violin. The erhu is played with a horsehair bow and the sound is produced by the vibration of the snake skin on the front of the instrument.

The erhu is a very old instrument. It first appeared in China during the Tang Dynasty over 1,400 years ago. The erhu was inspired by similar instruments of the nomadic peoples of the Eurasian Steppe. The “er” in erhu means “two” in Chinese because it has two strings. The “hu” in erhu is how the ancient Chinese referred to Mongolic, Iranian, Tibetan, and Turkic peoples. Many erhu songs are about horse riding, an ode to the nomadic origins of the instrument.

The erhu is played as a solo instrument or as part of an orchestra or small ensemble.

Chinese Orchestra Section: String

Dizi (笛子)

The dizi is a Chinese transverse flute usually made out of bamboo. In addition to the finger-holes, the dizi has a an additional hole between the embouchure and finger-holes for the dimo (笛膜) or di membrane, made from a thin shaving of reed glued over this hole. The dimo-covered hole produces a resonating effect on the sound, making it brighter and louder.

The dizi is a common traditional Chinese instrument used in Chinese folk music, Chinese opera, and Chinese orchestra.

The dizi in its current form is over 2,500 years old.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Wind

Guzheng (古箏)

The guzheng, also known as the Chinese zither, is a Chinese plucked string instrument with 18 to 21 strings and movable bridges. The guzheng is played with fingerpicks worn on one or both hands.

The guzheng is one of the oldest native Chinese instruments with a more than 2,500-year history. The guzheng first appeared during the Warring States Period about 2,500 years ago and its current form dates to the Tang Dynasty about 1,400 years ago.

The guzheng is often played as a solo instrument, in guzheng ensembles, and in Chinese orchestra. The guzheng gives a distinctly Chinese sound to the Chinese orchestra, because it is part of the Chinese orchestra's plucked string section, a section which does not exist in the Western orchestra.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Plucked String

Yangqin (揚琴)

The yangqin is a Chinese hammered dulcimer, derived from the Iranian santur. The santur has been played by Iranic peoples since ancient times. The yangqin has 144 strings and four or five bridges. The yangqin's strings are struck with two lightweight bamboo beaters (also known as hammers) with rubber tips. The yangqin is used both as a solo instrument and in Chinese orchestra.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Plucked String

Pipa (琵琶)

The pipa is a four-stringed Chinese plucked musical instrument, often known as a Chinese lute. The pipa is pear shaped and has from 12 to 28 frets. The pipa is played upright with five small plectra attached to the fingernails or with one large plectrum.

The pipa is a very old instrument. The pipa first appeared during the Han Dynasty over 1,800 years ago. The current pear-shaped form of the pipa dates from the Song Dynasty about 1,000 years ago. The pipa is believed to have originated in Central Asia or India. The word “pipa” is said to either be derived from the sound the instrument makes or from the Persian word for lute which is “barbat.”

The pipa gives a distinctly Chinese sound to the Chinese orchestra, because it is part of the Chinese orchestra's plucked string section, a section which does not exist in the Western orchestra.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Plucked String

Ruan (阮)

The ruan is a four-stringed Chinese plucked musical instrument with a circular body and a fretted neck with 24 frets. The ruan is lower pitched than the pipa. The ruan is either played with plectrum, like a guitar pick, or with acrylic nails.

The ruan comes in five sizes and is a commonly used in Chinese opera and orchestra.

The ruan is a very old instrument. The earliest ruan first appeared during the Han Dynasty over 1,800 years ago. The current form of the ruan dates from the Tang Dynasty about 1,400 years ago.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Plucked String

Sheng (笙)

The sheng is a Chinese hand-held mouth-blown free reed instrument with vertical pipes of different lengths, often known as a Chinese mouth organ.

The sheng is one of the oldest native Chinese instruments. There are over 3,000 year old images depicting it and some examples from the Han Dynasty about 1,800 years old exist in museums today.

Today, the sheng is used for melody and accompaniment in Chinese orchestras.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Wind

Suona (唢呐)

The suona is a Chinese double-reeded horn. It has a loud and high-pitched sound often used for outdoor performances, festivals, ceremonies, and rituals. The suona comes in different sizes.

The suona originated in either Central Asia, India, or Arabia and came to China via the Silk Road over 1,500 years ago. By the time of the Ming Dynasty about 700 years ago, the suona was already well established in China.n the Western orchestra.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Wind

Hulusi (葫蘆絲)

The hulusi is a free-reed wind instrument with three bamboo pipes which pass through a gourd wind chamber. The hulusi is held vertically and center pipe has finger holes while the two outer pipes are typically drone pipes.

The hulusi originated in Burma and among bordering minority groups in China, such as the Dai people in Yunnan province. The hulusi is now popular among mainstream Chinese because of its portability and ease of play.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Wind

Liuqin (柳琴)

The liuqin is a four-stringed Chinese plucked instrument, often known as a Chinese mandolin. The liuqin looks like a miniature pipa with a pear-shaped body but is higher pitched that the pipa. The liuqin is played diagonally with a pick.

The liuqin is a relatively modern instrument that first appeared during the Qing Dynasty about three hundred years ago. The liuqin is often played in Chinese opera and Chinese orchestra.

Chinese Orchestra Section: Plucked String