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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Guitar Strings on an Erhu? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 09:05 am |
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1st Post |
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haydana Approved
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Has anybody here ever used the D an A string from a guitar for an Erhu's strings? Im just wondering because for a design project at school ive decided to make an Erhu, but cant get Erhu strings in New Zealand  Thanks for any help 
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| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 12:53 pm |
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2nd Post |
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ychent Approved 
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Interesting idea! I am not sure how it would work, since the attachment points are different for erhu strings versus guitar. The erhu strings are attached to the bottom of the erhu by the little loop that is built into the string at the end, and then wounded onto the pegs. The loops goes on these tiny nail/screws that are usually built into a little recess on the base, which is quite small and foreseeably might be difficult to tie guitar strings onto. Please see the following video to see what I am referring to: http://www.eason.com.sg/resources/erhu5.jsp At the same time, if time allowed, you might want to simply perchase a set of strings for your erhu. Eason is a great and reliable resource that many of us here on this forum rely on. And erhu strings are actually quite affordable, even cheaper than guitar strings. http://www.eason.com.sg/products/string_access/mgh1-2.jsp I hope this helps. Just in case, if you are able to put guitar strnigs onto the erhu, would you please make a recording of its playing and post it here? I would love to found out how it sounds.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 04:17 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Den Approved 
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how soon would you have needed the strings? when I ordered from Eason, the shipment arrived quite soon. (his sites are linked here at the forum also) as far as substituting strings from another instrument, the mountain dulcimer, has the same loop you would need and are more than long enough and come in 4 different thickness Den Last edited on Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 04:21 pm by Den |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 09:54 pm |
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4th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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Most banjo strings come with loop ends on one end. And they are usually a bit thinner than guitar strings. Other than that, I have no knowledge if they would work on an erhu.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 02:39 am |
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5th Post |
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Clyde Approved 
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The small brass fittings on guitar strings can be taken out and you have your loop for your Erhu as Brad pointed out there are many other strings that can be considered however one would not want to select to small or lite textured guitar stings such as Ernie Ball lite weights or supper slinkey string sets, all though it would be most interesting to hear the reaction. God Bless
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 08:47 am |
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6th Post |
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haydana Approved
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I need the strings quite soon, so I think I'll try out nylon guitar strings, just to pass the project. When it's done I'll post images and a recording of the sound, and If it doesnt sound that good I'll get some strings from eason
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 09:26 am |
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7th Post |
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haydana Approved
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And thanks for your help! 
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 05:34 pm |
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8th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Clyde - I know nothing about the erhu - does it use heavy or light strings? I would have thought that it used a fairly light string, but it sounds like I'm wrong. You can get banjo strings in thicknesses from .10 through .26mm. The .26 is usually wound. Just wondering.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 06:27 pm |
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9th Post |
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Clyde Approved
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Brad most Erhu companies are close in size and they are more like standard guitar strings. They have a good texture to them so any type of a lite gauge slinky type of string would really not work well. It is not impossible however to use, just a bit tricky, I really don't know how it would react to the bow going over it as well. I used to think that all strings for the Erhu were the same but sizes differ but textures are very close to the same. I think that a standard guitar string as well as a Banjo strings would work I just nevered tried them yet. Another point to keep in mind is that these Chinese violins are often used or tuned to higher levels as in D to E and A to B so with this in mind some Erhu companies may be better at this then others. the D string is .16 in the A string is .10 in God Bless Last edited on Thu Mar 26th, 2009 05:32 pm by Clyde |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 07:09 pm |
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10th Post |
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Clyde Approved
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Someone here had a very good question so I should explain more in dept. We as guitarist and many other string musicians are used to pining the string to the board to create a note or sound tone with frets or without. Erhu's and most Chinese two string Violins require one to slide on the string and to push into the string to create a tone or sound and this amount is largely contributes to the note we are playing it is very flexible the strings are to far away from the wooden neck to pin to and you hold both strings at the same time the bow does the selecting. So this is so important to the texture of the string, any string musician with experience can pick up this instrument and play it with in a mater of minutes. One slides into a note and pushes in to obtain the desired note and tone it is just that simple . I do hope this helps explain how this instrument works God Bless
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 08:06 pm |
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11th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Thanks, Clyde. I had noticed there was no "fretting" the strings, more like playing "harmonics". It is an interesting instrument, and I like the traditional Chinese music I have heard played on it.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 08:43 pm |
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12th Post |
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Clyde Approved
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Traditional Chinese music doesn't really have a big appeal to me perhaps that is due to the many cultures we have here and growing up around the Chinese culture as well however I do play it whenever I am in China town with the elders that have taught me so much, then I merely fallow along behind them slightly. It is a very interesting instrument and indeed it is like playing harmonics and thanks for your good question. God Bless Last edited on Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 08:46 pm by Clyde |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 11:52 pm |
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13th Post |
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davidmdahl Approved
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Hello Haydana, If you are in a pinch for erhu strings, I suggest that violin strings of the appropriate thicknesses will work better than guitar strings. My erhu teacher has experimented with violin strings with results that he liked. I much prefer erhu strings, and find them easy and cheap to come by via Eason. Strings close to the following should work: Outer string (A): 0.24mm Inner string (D): 0.42mm Just make sure that the strings are long enough. Best wishes, David Last edited on Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 11:57 pm by davidmdahl |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24th, 2009 03:01 am |
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14th Post |
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haydana Approved
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Thanks everyone for the input, I think in the end I'll try out all the different strings I can get to as It would be interesting to hear the sound. Though in saying that since I myself am making the Erhu I dont know how it's going to turn out, and im making the bow does anybody know what else can be used for a bow string other than horse hair?
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24th, 2009 04:19 pm |
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15th Post |
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dsouthwood Approved 
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Try these links: http://www.howardcore.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?search=action&category=PART&keywords=%22Bow%20Hair%22 http://www.johnsonstring.com/horse.htm http://www.boogiemusic.com/product_info.php?cPath=428_429_682&products_id=57067
____________________ Music contains all of life. |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26th, 2009 06:16 pm |
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16th Post |
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Clyde Approved
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haydana wrote: Thanks everyone for the input, I think in the end I'll try out all the different strings I can get to as It would be interesting to hear the sound. Though in saying that since I myself am making the Erhu I dont know how it's going to turn out, and im making the bow The Vietnamese version of the Erhu uses nylon string for their bow your correct however it is not a normal type of nylon material it is some what course in texture and you may be able to fabricate this to complete your project. David means well however even viola strings are to short for the Erhu God Bless Last edited on Sat Mar 28th, 2009 08:30 pm by Clyde |
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| Posted: Wed Apr 8th, 2009 10:23 pm |
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17th Post |
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haydana Approved
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I have now finished my Erhu, looks alright but sounds like crap haha. Will post photos in a new topic soon
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| Posted: Thu Apr 9th, 2009 01:21 pm |
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18th Post |
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Den Approved
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hmm, seems like that will have taken you only 2 weeks to complete, I bet that took up a lot of your free time ! you mentioned previously intending to use a goatskin parchment... did that work out alright? certainly looking forward to your photos and descriptions
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