Today I had a Chinese Cultural Club meeting. I suggested music to the club. And then the advisor suggested Chinese music to me. Since the school has instruments. I began researching about it. I have this urge to mix it with contemporary music. Even though it is done, I would like to add some nice popular and modern touch to it. I have come to know that the two most well known chinese instrument would probably be the Guzheng or Chinese zither and the Er hu. I’m not sure what is it called in english.

The Chinese Zither or Gu zheng. Normally has 21 strings. And there are 4 green strings which is tuned A. The key of the instrument is D major. it has 21 movable bridges. For tuning. The instrument is played by applying pressure on the left side and plucking the right side. Its tuning from the first A is A F# E D B A and repeat for Four and a half octaves. I’m not really sure how you play different pitches though.

The er Hu. Is basically like a cello only with two strings. It is usually tuned to a perfect fifth. The most common fifth is D and A. The tuning of the two middle strings of a violin. But its bowing technique is different. You place the instrument on your left thigh. The bow’s hair is in between the two strings will the wood or the frame of the bow is outside. Playing the D string will involve pulling the bow inwards and the A string pushing outwards. Other than that , the left hand basically press different pitches like that of a cello.

Theres also another instruments called the Pipa or the Four stringed lute. IT has 33 frets and its tuning is ADEA.
Tags: chinese musical instrument, music, oriental music instrument
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