Erhu
ErhuGuanyin(二胡观音) - A Erhu tuner.
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MultiTuner(多功能校音器) -
An Instrument tuner Windows Software, a metronome is included.  |
MusicScope(音乐示波器) -
A tool for analyzing the frequency components of sound from the
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Erhu Pitch Figure (for numbered musical notation)
Each key is shown with half note interval.
Erhu Position Figure (traditional position figure)
Erhu Harmonics Position Figure
1-5-tring,
5-2-string, 6-3-string are shown as following
Erhu Musical symbols
Erhu "String" Determining (tuning)
Usually, the key and the "string" of the erhu is indicated in
the score. For example, "1 = G, 52-string". In this case, you do
not need to think about the erhu tuning. just play it. But when you play a
song or accompany songs by your self, you must determine
which-"string" will be used. Because the musical range of erhu is
narrow, at least, the range of good-listening sound is narrow, we usually
use movable DO, and make the lowest note of erhu overlap the the lowest note
in the song. Especially, for some local folk music accompaniments, it is not only to
change the "string", but also to change the tuning of erhu's open
strings by other pithces rather than D4-A4.
The
qianjin has two types. One is fixed-type qianjin, and the other is thread-type qianjin. In
Chinese, it is called "Qianjin". Fixed-type qianjin can make sound steady,
and thread-type qianjin can create beautiful sound or erhu-like sound.
Many players prefer to thread-type qianjin.
The distance between the bridge and the qianjin is about 38cm-42cm, which can
be adjusted according the size of the hand of the player.
The distance of the qianjin between the string and inside of neck is about 4
cm. If the distance is too wide, the vibrato becomes difficult.
Because it is difficult for beginners to tie thread qianjin, I made
an animation that tells beginners how the thread qianjin be set up to the neck of the
erhu. Notice: For watching the animation clearly, the gaps of the spiral wires
look wider. When we do it actually, do not leave any gaps.
Let your 4 fingers of left hand widen out and press the string naturally. Measure the distance from the fingertip of the index-finger to the fingertip of the pinkie finger. Multiply the distance by 4.5. The result of the multiplication is the distance from the qianjin to the bridge that is suitable for you.
Reason: The 2 fingers must widen to cover the interval of perfect fourth. The interval of perfect fourth at the first position is just 2/9 of the length of the string from the qianjin to the bridge.
The thread-type of qianjin has 2 weaknesses. One is that sound is not steady, and the another is that the pitch of inside string is not identical when bowing down and bowing up. In another word, the pitch becomes lower when bowing up.
To overcome the weaknesses of thread-type qianjin, some players use the pushing-type qianjin, as shown in right figure. It pushes out against the strings rather than pulling them in as a thread-type qianjin does..
Structurally, when bowing up, the pushing-type qianjin does not let the tension of inside string fall down.
Movable Qianjin
By adjusting the position of the qianjin up or down, the pitch of open string can be easily changed. The famous QQ-Qianjin is an example.
Many erhu players use thread to make pitch adjusters for inside string and outside string each. It is called thread-type-adjuster. The thread-type-adjuster adjusts the tension of the string by changing the position of the thread-type-adjuster up or down. The different position of the thread-type-adjuster can apply the pressure to string differently. Because it is similar in appearance to thread qianjin, it is used by many erhu players.
Rolling vibrato
While pressing the string, roll the fingertip up-down periodically.
Remember that the fingertip must not slide on the string absolutely.
Please refer to the animation.
Pressing vibrato
By pressing string periodically, the tension of the string can be
changed periodically, and therefore the pitch of the sound changes periodically.
This is called Pressing Vibrato. Because pressing vibrato can only
increase the frequency of the sound (like guitar), when we do pressing
vibrato, the pressing point shall be a little higher than that when we do
not do pressing vibrato. A little higher pressing point can balance the difference
of frequency.
Vibrato for open string
We can do vibrato on the open string. Let fingertip press on the
qianjin and do rolling vibrato. By this method, The frequency changes only
at higher side, like guitar. The another method is that periodically shake the
neck. By this method we can get a good vibrato effectively.
The tuning peg has 3 types, like the following figure.
1. wood-axle
2. worm drive
3. nut-bolt
Erhu
Erhu is only one instrument in the "Huqin" family of bowed string instrument.
In the "Huqin" family , there are also "Zhonghu", "Banhu",
"Gaohu", "Jinghu" and so on. They have different forms, but the same mechanism.
Zhonghu
A little bigger than erhu, and the open strings are set as G3-D4.
Gaohu
A higher sound than erhu, and the open strings are set as A4-E5. Because
the base of gaohu is small, we play it beneath the legs not on the left leg.
Erquanqin
Like zhonghu mentioned above. The famous work
"Moonlight On Pond" is played
with Erquanqin. 
ニ泉映月
(ErquanYinue = Moonlight On Pond)
Jinghu
Jinghu appeared at the end of 18th Century. It is used as accompaniment
instrument of Peking Opera.
雲雀 (skylark)
夜深沈
(a quiet night)
Banhu
An accompaniment instrument for local opera and local music. The snake's
skin has been changed by thin wood board. Banhu has 300 years history.
Banhu music: 大姑娘美
(Beautiful girl. by jiang ke mei)