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| Notes are moving around on me :( - Erhu - Other Instruments - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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jamesf Approved 
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I tune my erhu before practice. When I play I try to remember how far the notes are from the qianjin but for some reason this changes all the time. It's really frustrating. It's like starting from scratch every time I practice. One day E is 1 inch from the qianjin and the following day it's an inch and a half. Today it's almost 2 inches. What the heck?! At this rate I'll have just 3 inches of playing space by the end of the year. I'll be using tweezers to play in tune! Last edited on Sat Aug 30th, 2008 10:46 pm by jamesf |
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Clyde Approved 
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Sounds like one of these problems listed below, now you can mark those positions with tiny pieces of tape placed on the neck just to make sure. 1. strings stretching : at times some strings take longer to brake in so to speak or some strings of pour quality will never hold a good tune. 2. neck bending: In some cases the wood of an Erhu has been made out of non aged or less qaulity materials so it is not tough enough to stand up to the pressures of the strings for long periods of time so it gives way and bends slightly. 3. Snake skin : yes it is not common however at times some snake skins give way if you do not take precautionary measures like placing a stick between the sound box and strings to take the pressure off the snake skin while not in use. These are just a few common reasons I am sure others will have some other reasons to add for you. God Bless Music units the world and is the common language that needs no translation
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Den Approved
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how would these examples then interact with the open string noted into perfect tune.? would the string need to be retuned to the proper note in each case? or is that also changing with some causes but not others? Den
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Clyde Approved
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Good question so lets take this one step at a time and see what we come up with. We first of all know that good strings must sound good first off, but they must last long as well. Good strings must also be smooth hold up to climates conditions to some extent. but bar non they must be able to hold a tune, they should last the musician throughout a music piece at the very least. Well all strings must have time to brake in or stretch themselves out. So even at best if you have a good set of strings on your Erhu even if you do not play it for a few days and you do use a support brace under them between the strings and sound box so that the strings do not put excessive pressure on the sound box or snake skin it should hold it's tune with some conciliation to number 2 quality of the neck. Now in example number 2 we question the structure of the wood used in the neck, No matter how good or what material your neck is made out of there is movement by just climate changes alone. We look for well aged wood so keep this limited, but movement is still there. Though the wood may not bend or shape itself to a noticeable view in microscopic form it does swell and shrink , as small as you can imaging this to be it will most certainly effect the tune of the strings an the length of the Erhu neck does not help in this as well. Ok moving on to the number 3 example and the most dangerous of all the snake skin some snake skins are extremely sensitive and the thicker ones give the most, it is always a good idea to protect your snake skin and care for it as well, If a set of strings have been left for a period of time on an Erhu without a brace even a well made quality Erhu you will notice an indention or outline of the bridge and anything can effect the sound the snake skin must remain even and a good snake skin is as even in thickness as it is in scales. Take your Erhu and hold it up towards the light while looking through the back and see the evenness of your own snake skin. Even the base board can fluctuate by going in and out if it is not properly mounted securely, every time you put pressure on the strings it moves and does not return to the same position. I hope that helps. God Bless Music units the world and is the common language that needs no translation Last edited on Wed Sep 3rd, 2008 04:55 am by Clyde |
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huqiner Approved
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I think the only thing that could change the finger positions of your notes is that the qianjin to bridge distance is changing every time you tune your erhu. Maybe your qianjin is not wound tightly around the neck and it's moving up the neck towards the pegs. This is assuming you are starting with slack strings and tightening the strings to get to D and A. After you've tuned your erhu, make a note of the qianjin to bridge distance and see if that changes the next time you tune your erhu. Last edited on Sun Aug 31st, 2008 05:26 am by huqiner |
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dsouthwood Approved 
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Are your tuning pegs slipping? Dennis
____________________ Music contains all of life. |
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jamesf Approved
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Thanks everyone for your input. It's probably a combination of a little bit of everything. Strings. It's probably not the break-in period because I've used these for a couple of months. Perhaps it's the quality. Neck bending. Maybe a little bit from the weather. I live in a desert after all and use a humidifier at night only (not a good idea?) Snake skin. You're right. I don't take the pressure off the membrane when the erhu is not in use. Can I just take the bridge off or is it necessary to put brace in there? I hope it's not too late to get in the habit of taking the bridge off. Qianjin to bridge distance. It has always been where it is: the length of my elbow to the first crease on my pinkie. As for the bridge, I have a feeling this is the bit that's variable but I try to line it up to the neck and the outer corners of the hexagonal box. I should mark where I put it. Tuning pegs. I tune the strings before I practice. I want to say the pegs don't slip because I've never had to retune in the midle of practice but then again I've never practiced longer than 2 hours.
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jamesf Approved
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Den wrote: how would these examples then interact with the open string noted into perfect tune.? would the string need to be retuned to the proper note in each case? or is that also changing with some causes but not others? I know, right? The open strings are in tune. They are the only constant notes in this erhu  . Maybe my fingers are getting fatter/thinner or something!
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mrjackgreen Approved
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This sounds a little silly, but I assume that you are pressing the string down with constant pressure? How do you determine where the note is? Are you just going by ear, or do you have an electronic tuner?
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jamesf Approved
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I do apply even pressure. I would say just enough to produce the note cleanly. I use tuning software and a mic. They aren't silly questions. Thanks for helping me troubleshoot.
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bn82999 Approved
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Qianjin to bridge distance. If your qianjin's position didn't move, it may still be possible that the part of the qianjin holding the strings have moved up or down the strings. If i'm not wrong, even the slightest movement of the qianjin will change the finger positions of the notes...yup so u can check on that ^^ I use liquid paper to dot the strings, its easier to make sure that the distance is accurate, i only dot the first note and the forth note and the note which is one octave higher than the kong xuan (open string). You may want to try that to see if the notes really do move, or maybe change the qianjin...is that qian jin fraying etc? if it is, then u'll have to change it ^^ thats all i can thk of atm, hope this helps
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tansungwah Approved 
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hmmm....Can you take some pictures or post some audio or better still a video? I think you bought the Erhu from me james, so I really want to find out if the problem's with the Erhu. SW
____________________ 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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jamesf Approved
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I've changed the qianjin, both strings, bridge and rosined the bow. It sounds great. Let's see if the problem persists this week.
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Den Approved
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had you changed one thing at a time you might have isolated which was the culprit. Maybe it is a combo of all 3?? Den
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Den Approved
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jamesf wrote: I've changed the qianjin, both strings, bridge and rosined the bow. It sounds great. Let's see if the problem persists this week. so, hows it goin today? still soundin' good? today I had taken the bow off for a more thorough rosining and darn if I didnt get it hitched up again with a half - turn off. man does it sound lousy like that (playable but out of control) , it took a while to find the problem, I had done that once before. Den
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| ezFolk Forums > Other Instruments > Erhu > Notes are moving around on me :( | |
