Am a musician in Chinese orchestra

Anybody here familiar with Chinese musical instruments? by Ki no Shirayuki on 2021-02-27 10:56:00 UTC Reply

I have a question regarding the èrhú (Chinese two-string fiddle). It's ideally played sitting down, as it's placed on the player's lap, but in a fic I read a long time ago, a character is written as playing it kneeling on the floor (sitting seiza style). Can the èrhú really be played this way, or do you necessarily have to sit on a chair?

Am a musician in Chinese orchestra by Jean Yeap on 2021-03-01 00:31:25 UTC Reply

Personally I play the pipa, but we share a practice room with the erhu players. As far as I've seen, all of them play the instrument sitting down.

However, according to some answers on baidu.com, you have to attach a rack to your waist to be able to play it while standing up. I think it's because of the way the strings are positioned: you can't just hold it up by the 'stem', or changing notes would be extremely tedious.

In conclusion, you have to place the erhu on some flat surface, be it your lap or the attachable rack, to be able to play it.

I love the PPC. ^_^ by Huinesoron on 2021-03-01 08:50:02 UTC Reply

The fact that you can come in with a question about something utterly random, and still find someone who goes 'yep, I know about that'... love it.

hS, whose knowledge of stringed instruments is limited to 'some of them are harps'

Oh my god, you ever heard of TwoSet Violin? by Ki no Shirayuki on 2021-03-01 11:20:31 UTC Edited Reply

They are two Asian-Australian classical violinists who make utterly hilarious videos about violin playing and classical musician life. I've learned a lot about the violin in particular and musical instruments in general despite not playing one myself. Here's a TV Tropes page for more info.

Getting back to the topic of Chinese instruments, I'd also recommend my favorite ensemble performance. Yes, the èrhú shows up too.

They are absolutely hilarious by Jean Yeap on 2021-03-01 12:05:23 UTC Reply

I especially enjoy those videos where they male fun of very obviously fake violin playing in movies/shows. I might actually learn to play the violin one day, but the instrument itself is quite pricey.

I… kinda wanna learn the èrhú and the shamisen by Ki no Shirayuki on 2021-03-01 12:30:13 UTC Edited Reply

But again, instruments + learning = expensive, and I don't trust my hands' ability to handle directly pressing strings. ~~Such a shame, because the èrhú sounds sexy as hell.~~

The erhu sounds depressing ngl by Jean Yeap on 2021-03-01 13:34:56 UTC Reply

Went to China once, and this dude was sitting by a lake playing his instrument. It was one of the two things that made me cry that year, the other one being an unspecified Disney movie.

I remember hearing a busker playing Despacito by Ki no Shirayuki on 2021-03-01 13:44:29 UTC Reply

I assure you, no matter what instrument it's played on, it's impossible to cry at that song.

I mean, by Ki no Shirayuki on 2021-03-01 05:02:45 UTC Edited Reply

Can you play it while sitting kneeling on the floor as opposed to on a chair?

I suppose you could by Jean Yeap on 2021-03-01 11:58:45 UTC Reply

The arms would be positioned a little awkwardly, but if you place it on your lap while kneeling, you could technically play it. Just not a very comfortable position to be in.