Erhu

About the Sound and Character

The sound of the erhu is incredibly expressive, penetrating, and closest in timbre to the human soprano or alto voice. Because there is no mechanical separation between the bow and strings (the bow hair passes between the two strings), the instrument features seamless legato and deep vibrato.

Structure and Features

The construction of the erhu is minimalist: a small hexagonal or round resonator is covered with python skin, and the long wooden neck has no frets. The bow is made of bamboo and horsehair, which remains permanently woven between the strings.

Genres

• Traditional Chinese solo music and folk orchestras
• Jiangnan Sizhu (string and wind ensemble tradition)
• Modern cinematic soundtracks and ethnic crossover