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Oct 7, 2023 · There were more than 70 types of musical instruments used in ancient China. Many of these instruments have more than 3,000 years of history. Among the many traditional musical instruments of China, the most popular 10 instruments were the guzheng, erhu, dizi, pipa, guqin, hulusi, suona, xiao, Chinese drum, and bianzhong. 1.
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White porcelain is a classic type of traditional Chinese...
- China Performing Arts
With a history that dates back over 10,000 years, it is no...
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- Chinese Folk Dances
When one speaks of folk dances in connection with Chinese...
- Chinese Porcelain
- Dizi
- Erhu
- Gong
- Guqin
- Guzheng
- Konghou
- Liuqin
- Morin Khuur
- Pengling
- Pipa
First on the list of Chinese instruments, we have the Dizi which is a type of flutemade from a straight piece of bamboo. Dizis come in a variety of different lengths for different pitches with the longer the length, the lower the pitch, and vice versa. They’re made with a cork stopper at the mouthpiece end and they are then wrapped in silk to preve...
Erhusare a type of fiddle that is constructed out of two parts: the neck and the body. The neck is made of long, round hardwood and is attached to the body which is a wooden resonating chamber that is hexagonal with a snakeskin soundboard in front and a carved wooden screen on the back and rests on a cushion of red velvet. Erhus are held vertically...
The Chinese Gongis a large, circular metal disk that is a type of percussion similar to a cymbal. They are played by striking them with a mallet to produce different intensity sounds. Gongs feature in orchestras, traditional dances, and religious occasions. There are three types of traditional Chinese gongs: 1. tam-tam 2. daluo 3. xiaoluo Tam tams ...
Guqinsare a type of wooden string instrument that is very unique. It is comprised of a resonator below (with two different-sized holes in it) and a soundboard above. They have seven silk strings (since the Han dynasty) spanning the soundboard. Interestingly, Guqins have a lot of symbolism tied into their design. For example, it is 3.65 Chinese feet...
A Guzhengis a type of zither that originated from the Qin Dynasty. The resonator (with three holes cut into the bottom) is made of hardwood, with the arched soundboard made from softer wood. The 16 to 21 strings span the length of the soundboard with a bridge at either end. The additional bridges are used to tune each string accordingly. The player...
The Konghouis similar to a harp, with three varieties, a horizontal one (Wo-konghou), a vertical one (Shu-konghou), and a phoenix-headed one. Konghous are part of the strings section in the orchestra and were used as court instruments, in ensembles, and as solo performances. The body is made of carved wood and the strings of the Konghou are plucked...
The Liuqinis a pear-shaped mandolin that has become more popular in recent years. Its body is made of wood of a willow tree, and it originally had two strings and seven frets although nowadays most have four strings and up to 29 frets. The Liuqin is played by plucking the strings with one hand (often using a plectrum), while the other hand’s finger...
The Morin Khuuris often called the “horsehead fiddle” due to the carved horse head at the top. It’s not technically from China and is actually of Mongolian origin being used by the central Mongolian people as an accompaniment to songs and rituals. Similar in design to a cello, the Morin Khuur has a trapezoid body (soundbox), with a long neck, both ...
The Penglingare two small, cup-shaped bell chimes that are typically made from brass or copper and are attached by a piece of string. They are believed to have gained widespread use in the Northern Wei Dynasty although are thought to have originated from Tibet. The bells are held in one hand and gently tapped together to produce a chime. These bell...
A Pipais often referred to as a type of Chinese lute and has a pear-shaped body and short neck, made of wood. They are three feet and five inches tall and have four strings, with thirty frets. Like theGuqins, the Pipa is also a very symbolic instrument. For example, its three feet represent heaven, earth, and man, its height (five inches) represent...
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- Erhu 二胡 (èr hú) Number of strings 2 Range. 2 octaves. Tuning. A minor or C major. Playing technique. Bow, with a range of techniques including vibrato, glissando, and varied bow pressure, speed, and angle to create timbre and dynamics.
- Pipa 琵琶 (pí pá) The pipa is a four-stringed plucked instrument that is shaped like a pear and has a long neck. It is commonly used in Chinese classical and traditional music.
- Zhongruan 中阮 (zhōng ruǎn) Number of strings 4 Range. 3 to 4 octaves. Tuning. The zhongruan is usually tuned to an open G tuning, with the strings tuned to G, D, G, and D, although other tunings are also used.
- Dizi 笛子 (dí zǐ) Number of strings 4 Range. 3 to 4 octaves. Tuning. The pipa is usually tuned to an open G tuning, with the strings tuned to G, D, G, and D, although other tunings are also used.
Chinese musical instruments are traditionally grouped into eight categories known as bā yīn ( 八音 ). [1] . The eight categories are silk, bamboo, wood, stone, metal, clay, gourd and skin; other instruments considered traditional exist that may not fit these groups.
May 3, 2024 · Comprehensive List of Traditional Chinese Musical Instruments. Traditional Chinese music, with its origins tracing back to the Neolithic age, represents a fundamental aspect of Chinese culture. Unlike Western music which often focuses on harmony and counterpoint, traditional Chinese music is primarily melody and rhythm driven.
- China Underground
Chinese music, the art form of organized vocal and instrumental sounds that developed in China. It is one of the oldest and most highly developed of all known musical systems. Chinese music history must be approached with a certain sense of awe.
The “Eight Sounds,” or eight categories of traditional Chinese instruments, are made of bamboo, clay, gourd, hide, metal, silk, stone, and wood. And in this article, we’ll examine a few of these traditional Chinese musical instruments and consider their sounds as well as their significance to Chinese music and culture. Contents [ show] 1. Dizi.
