Gǔqín (古琴) Categorised as a ‘silk’ (絲) instrument, due to the silk material used for its strings, the … Music has been a very important part of Chinese history and tradition. , and it was then called Qiangdi, which was… The Dizi (or Bamboo Flute) is a Chinese style flute. Pippa has 4 strings, a pearly shaped resonance box Made of wood, and between 14 and 26 bridges. Chinese harp was revived in the 20th century utilizing the principles of the modern Pedal harp. ♦ If you liked this article, join our newsletter by using the forms on this website so we can stay in touch. First, it is undoubtedly the most mysterious. It is often called the Chinese violin and is seemingly more versatile than the western violin. Dizi is made of … The Ruan is a traditional Chinese lute with a round body and a long, straight neck that exhibits 24 frets covering 12 semitones. Pipa is—according to the historical records—, based on the Persian lute (Barbat), which was called Hu-pipa by the Chinese back then. The harp is a string instrument after all, right? A decent beginner one doesn’t cost a lot! The variety of stringed instruments in Chinese orchestra is rather extensive, and is what makes the music so lively and charismatic. Its resonator is galley-shaped, and in cross section the top is curved and the bottom flat. 10+ Traditional Mexican Instruments You’ve Never Heard Of! Although it looks very similar to the Pipa, Liuqin is much smaller in size. Your email address will not be published. Ruan is one of the oldest ancient Chinese instruments with more than 2,000 years of history. About 22% of these are Guitar, 1% are Stringed Instruments Parts & Accessories, and 1% are Violin. Due to its long history and broad development, ancient traditional musical scores that have been passed down have mostly been written for … The Erhu has a poignant sound that resembles a violin, and is played in a similar fashion with a bow. Another Chinese four-string plucked lute is the liuqin, which looks like a smaller version of the pipa. They added the number of strings to 21 from the popular 16, so it can cover four octaves now, and now we have modern materials for the strings and the new S-shaped bridge. There are actually a lot more string instruments from China than the ones available on this list. I’ve decided to include the ancient Chinese harp in the mix. We will discuss the difference as we discuss Ruan below. Qin is actually a part of ancient China’s four arts of scholarship, four highly regarded artistic and academic accomplishments. The fact that China remained isolationist for centuries, their musical culture didn’t spread much outside of the Sinosphere. It can be said that the variety of Chinese plucked string instruments may be more extensive than any part of the world. Also, the popular Japanese instrument Shamisen has its roots in the instrument, and looks very similar to the Chinese Sanxian. So, Guqin is highly regarded as one of the important symbols of Chinese culture. These are usually played with finger picks. Click to see some Guzheng models – Opens in new tab. Click to see some Guqin models – Opens in new tab. Erhu is actually a very versatile and expressive bowed string instrument that can imitate neighing horses, chirping birds, and even human singing voices. Guzheng has amassed vast popularity in Chinese orchestra and has a large solo repertoire. Traditionally, Erhus have a resonator box that’s covered in python skin, but many modern ones are made with synthetic skin which is more durable but doesn’t have the same strong timbre of snakeskin. Click to see some Yangqin models – Opens in new tab. Due to the characteristic circular body, it’s sometimes called the Moon Guitar (Such elegance!). It has also been featured in multiple film soundtracks. Since 2003, Guqin has been included by UNESCO in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, showing its importance as a historic musical instrument. It remains an integral part of the plucked-string section of a Chinese orchestra. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Liuqin is an excellent example of successful modernization. Want to try an Erhu? It has a striking resemblance to not only the Guzheng, but also the dan tranh from Vietnam, gayageum from Korea and the yatga from Mongolia. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Due to its rich and percussive tonal qualities, it’s sometimes known as the Chinese banjo. The guqin is not to be c… Guqin is the favorite instrument for sages and scholars of ancient China. Chinese musician Liu Yue-ning plays the traditional Chinese stringed instrument yangqin, June 29, 2009. A lot of them underwent modifications in the 20th century such as use of modern construction materials, tuning modifications, silk strings replaced by metal strings etc. A wide variety of chinese string instruments options are available to you, such as face material, combo set offered, and body material. Some of these instruments are less than 100 years old, while others are thousands of years old. ( AP Photo / Channi Anand ) The instrument was originally called qin pipa (so, a modification of the Hu-pipa as discussed above), and it received the present name after the famous Ruan Xian (3rd century CE). The modern Ruan comes in several sizes from the Di Ruan (bass), Xiao Ruan (small), Zhong Ruan (medium), Da Ruan (large), and Gaoyin Ruan (soprano). It is sometimes referred to by the Chinese as "the father of Chinese music" or "the instrument of the sages". It’s very different from the other lutes we discussed as well as the Erhu. The Yangqin does fall into the plucked-string instrument category, but it is really a hammered Dulcimer. The Yangqin traditionally used bronze strings unlike silk strings on other Chinese string instruments. For instance, it is played on the musician’s lap (or on a table) vertically. “Pipa” 琵琶. Also, don’t forget to share this with your friends and show them what you’ve discovered today! The pipa (琵琶) is a plucked Chinese string instrument. The horsehair bow is threaded in between the two strings and is moved over the strings to produce sound. Historically, Chinese drums have been used in various traditional and religious celebrations and also in a conflict like during warfare to command armies. Modern Liuqins also feature a larger body and steel strings, which have solidified its role from a folk accompanying instrument to an indispensable part of Chinese opera & Chinese orchestra. The instrument consists of seven strings which were traditionally always made of high-quality silk, but recent changes have made the use of nylon-flatwound steel strings more prevalent. It is also one … Chinese Girls Playing Traditional Folk Instruments: Huqin, Erhu, Pipa, Yangqin, Guzheng, Suona, DiziCHINESE GIRLS AMAZING PLAYING FOLK INSTRUMENTS!! The loud, crisp sound along with the wide range make it suitable for orchestral accompaniment as well as solo performances. The pipa is a plucked 4-string Chinese musical instrument that is easily identifiable by its pear-shaped wooden body. Because of the way they are tuned and their distinctive “clattering” sound, Pipas are really only suited for Chinese music. In addition to the traditional Ruan, several variations have been developed over the years such as – Diyin Ruan (Contrabass Ruan), Daruan (Bass Ruan), Zhongruan (Tenor Ruan), Xiaoruan (Alto Ruan) and Gaoyin Ruan (Soprano Ruan). It features double-rowed strings, multiple bridges, adjustable soundbox and has 72 silk-steel strings. Gu, as we have established when we discussed Guzheng above, means ancient, and Qin means Chinese plucked seven-string instrument. A gentleman does not part with his Qin or Se without good reason. Click to see some Pipa models – Opens in new tab. Chinese Sanxian. Players are supposed to strike the strings on the left side of the bridge. This Chinese Sanxian has the Wood Sound Box (Resonant Box) as show in the pictures. https://www.topchinatravel.com/china-guide/traditional-musical-instrument The guqin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family. The Chinese string instrument (bowed) is also known generically as Huqin. © 2018 - 2021 China Market Advisor. The modern Pipa was produced from further modifications from the Tang-pipa, with a crooked neck, 24-26 frets, and ledges that allow for its “bendable” slides, the signature romantic voice. 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