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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page:   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ...   |
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| Erhu learning to play - Erhu - Other Instruments - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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woodstock Approved
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Hi Clyde, It is definetely a gaohu. My relative included a note in the instrument case saying that it is a specific type of gaohu. It is round, 5" long and the back diameter is about 3-1/4". It has a dragon carving on the top of the vertical post. I will know in detail why he bought me the gaohu instead of erhu when his letter arrives. You mentioned that there is too much slack with the gaohu string. I do not feel or see the slack on my gaohu. As to putting different strings to make it sound like an erhu, I think that I am too of a novice to tackle it. Everything is new to me right now and I have no idea what is what. My objective in learning the erhu (gaohu) is be able to play the piece called "horse race". Is it an impossible dream?? Thanks. Will
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Clyde Approved 
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God Bless Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 08:34 pm by Clyde |
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woodstock Approved
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Hi Clyde, I think I am going to play with the gaohu a little while before taking any action in the conversion (to erhu). There is an overwhelming amount of information to digest. I have tried to tune a guitar once and I was not very successful. As I wrote previously, I am tone deaf. So I know that I will problem in tuning the gaohu later. All I know right now is that there are two strings and they sound different. This brings me to the next question. How do you tune the erhu. If it is by ear, I am dead. I have seen a piano tuner used an electronic device to tune the piano. Is there such device for the erhu? Again, thanks for answer in advance. Will
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Clyde Approved
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God Bless Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 08:34 pm by Clyde |
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tansungwah Approved 
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Dear Will, I have a youtube video here on how to change the strings and tune the erhu which you might find helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWEEQisFuJk Like what Clyde say, use a metronome if you cannot tune by ear. The one who sell it to you should be able to teach you how to use it. We have 2 models in our store you might want to consider if it is cheaper than buying from your local store considering the freight charges and taxes(if any). http://www.eason.com.sg/products/products_tuner.jsp Sung Wah
____________________ Chinese Music Instruments Online store: http://www.eason.com.sg Chinese Music Instruments Blog: http://tansungwah.blogspot.com Online Erhu Course: http://learnerhu.wordpress.com |
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woodstock Approved
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Hi Clyde and Sung Wah, Thanks to both of you for the valuable information. Sung Wah, I have watched all your video on Youtube. I found they are very informative. Again, thanks. Will
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kenichi Approved 
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Hey Clyde! I am confused on some things. I have started learning the fingering charts and could use some tips on how to learn where to place your hands on the different positions without looking. my friends have started a rock band a i was invited to play the erhu in it, so im trying to learn as much as i can in as little time as possible. also, holding the bow. i have know clue how to hold the bow properly the erhu vcd doesnt do a greeat job at showing how he does it, do i put pressure on the bow hair? the bamboo part of my bow keeps hitting the outside string when i play, how do i stop this?
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Clyde Approved
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God bless Attachment: finering position.jpg (Downloaded 236 times) Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 08:35 pm by Clyde |
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o0bagel0o Approved
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Hey Guys. I have another question. I have been practicing and getting better but when i practice my scales i can barely get two octaves out of my erhu. i get a scratchy noise when i start playing the f# above d2. now i dont know whether it's my own fault with technical problems or if its my erhu. if it's me, then i prolly hav to practice more. but, if it is my erhu, what could i do to improve its tonal quality? (btw my erhu is a basic level model. here is a link to where bought it. http://www.clarionmusic.com/index.php?action=item&id=1&prevaction=category&previd=1&prevstart=0)
____________________ "For me, music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion." Luciano Pavarotti |
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tansungwah Approved
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Dear Kenichi, You can take a look at some youtube videos on how to bow and hold the bow. Clyde's got a nice picture there. Different teachers might teach differently. Try to learn from different sources and see which gives you the best results. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTd3IQeF6Fw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59sMiDgR_0o Bagel, Its quite difficult to tell what's the problem from what you described. Perhaps you can make a video of yourself playing the erhu and take shots of your Erhu, especially a closeup of the snakeskin resonator. But the erhu in the link definitely has potential to produce scratchy tones, especially with the black horsehair bow. Rosin plays a part too. Some china made rosins are fine but some are just built to give your ears a hard time. Last edited on Thu Sep 13th, 2007 08:59 am by tansungwah ____________________ Chinese Music Instruments Online store: http://www.eason.com.sg Chinese Music Instruments Blog: http://tansungwah.blogspot.com Online Erhu Course: http://learnerhu.wordpress.com |
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Clyde Approved
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God Bless Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 08:36 pm by Clyde |
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tansungwah Approved
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Clyde, I like the part about not losing the bow easily because its lodged between the strings. Yes the bow does make a difference. I've got a Japanese who came to my shop with her Erhu complaining of some scratchy noise at certain parts when she plays. Her Erhu is of above average quality. I meddled with the qianjing, dampener and even changed the strings but the noise is still there. Finally, I changed the bow and the noise is gone. Sung Wah
____________________ Chinese Music Instruments Online store: http://www.eason.com.sg Chinese Music Instruments Blog: http://tansungwah.blogspot.com Online Erhu Course: http://learnerhu.wordpress.com |
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St_Cheang Approved
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I got my erhu about a month ago. At first, I did not know how to assemble the instrument, then I was able to play a few tunes, but the sound was scatchy, especially the high notes, I was generating harmonics. I since changed the strings, and reset the bridge and damper, I also made sure there was ample rosin on the bow, and suddenly, it was a different instrument. I can even play Meditation from Thais on it, reaching up to the highest notes. In fact, I play it better than on the violin which I had played for 20 years. I am not sure what the reason of the change was, I suspect, it was the damper, and the rosin on the bow, and of course, as you get more practice, you will be able to produce a better sound. One question I have for tansungwah. I listened to an erhu performance with an orchestra. The erhu was able to hold it's own, the volume it generated was fantastic. Is that because it is a concert grade instrument? What is the difference between a Concert grade instrument from a Student grade that I have. I am ready to move up.
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o0bagel0o Approved
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Hey guys, i figured out what the problem was. it was that stupid piece of foam that was supposed to be the dampener. i took it out and put a piece of felt there and now it sounds much better. the higher notes are sounding much clearer and even the lower notes sound a bit better.
____________________ "For me, music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion." Luciano Pavarotti |
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Clyde Approved
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God Bless Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 08:37 pm by Clyde |
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tansungwah Approved
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Well Cheang, in my opinion, a good Erhu should have the following attributes: 1) Rich full bodied tone - starter erhus usually sound thin. 2) The tone and volume of outer and inner strings are balanced 3) Ability to play high notes clearly without noise 4) The volume difference between notes played on the lower positions and higher positions are not too great. One disadvantage Erhu has over Violin is that the volume of its high notes reduces quite substantially. 5) Characteristics of the tone - this is somewhat subjective. Some like it mellow while others like it bright. Its like whether you prefer the voice of this person to that person. 6) The notes are penetrative - especially important if you are playing solo with an orchestra. Your Erhu must not be drowned by the orchestra even though it is mic up. 7) Responsiveness/ sensitivity of the Erhu - Some Erhu plays effortlessly, especially when you are playing fast passages. While others feel like you forever need to rosin your bow. 8) Appearance - personally I'm not too particular about this. But more often than not, a good high end Erhu might be lacking in 1 or 2 of the attributes. It depends on which is more important to you and whether can you live with what is lacking. A concert soloist might be more particular with 3 and 6 for example. A recreational player might be more concerned with 5 and 8 for example.
____________________ Chinese Music Instruments Online store: http://www.eason.com.sg Chinese Music Instruments Blog: http://tansungwah.blogspot.com Online Erhu Course: http://learnerhu.wordpress.com |
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St_Cheang Approved
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Hi Tansungwah, Thanks for your analysis. Since I play mostly western classical music, I think 3, 6 and 7 are important. I look forward one day to meet with someone like you who is knowlegable in these instruments, and try out some really good erhu's.
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tansungwah Approved
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I look forward to meeting my customers and friends from the other side of the world as well. Well, meeting Clyde might be nearer for you. He's passionate about the Erhu and has a wealth of knowledge to share. Sung Wah
____________________ Chinese Music Instruments Online store: http://www.eason.com.sg Chinese Music Instruments Blog: http://tansungwah.blogspot.com Online Erhu Course: http://learnerhu.wordpress.com |
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woodstock Approved
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Hi Clyde, I just received the chromatic tuner metronome in the mail and it came with a simple instructional pamphlet. Since you have experience with this device, if I were to tune my gaohu, do I play with either string until the green light comes on? For gaohu, I should get a G with the inside string and a D with the outside string. I assume that if I don't get that, I should loosen or tighten the string. If this correct? Thanks. Will
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Clyde Approved
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God Bless Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 08:38 pm by Clyde |
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| ezFolk Forums > Other Instruments > Erhu > Erhu learning to play | |
