7 Chinese Classical Instruments You Should Know

Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is back,
with a new tour starting October 2015!
Click here for more information ☞ goo.gl/r47EPT
Follow Mike and Dan on Instagram:
@mikexingchen
@gibbiedeano
Facebook: / offthegreatwall
Twitter: / ntdotgw
e.ntd.tv/NTDtelevision
Subscribe for more Off the Great Wall: e.ntd.tv/SubscribeOTGW
Make sure to share with your friends!
__
OTGW Merchandise! e.ntd.tv/OTGWmerch
Facebook: / offthegreatwall
Twitter: / ntdotgw
And let's not forget Google Plus: e.ntd.tv/GooglePlusOTGW
Find Dan on Twitter: / danotgw
Find Mike on Twitter: / mikexingchen
NTD Television: e.ntd.tv/NTDtelevision
__
MOBILE LINKS: More OTGW Vids!

[@ListersHatsune]

The erhu is one of my favourite instruments to listen to. It sounds so unique compared to other instruments of it's type and can make a song sound really melancholic or nostalgic. To me, the sound of the erhu is the most distinctive Chinese sound.

[@selinacarpenter]

aListers oh thank you! I'm so glad to hear that there are fans out there who loved the Er Hu:) I'm an Er Hu btw. Hopefully to become a professional 💜

[@joeyyyyu]

Omg yess ,, i'm currently playing erhu

[@stephen0793]

It’s also one of the hardest to play

[@qricc]

The sound of Erhu makes my tear canals flood, tears of sadness and joy in one package. A release.

[@theunitedkingdom]

Selina Carpenter • You’re an Et Hu?

[@YanLuo]

Can't believe guzheng or guqin is not mentioned lol

[@theresamay4280]

Yeah seriously, I was waiting for one of those the whole time

[@HotPepperLala]

+Yan Luo The instrument of Confucius is omitted lol

[@YanLuo]

+rinwhr what does that even mean? lol

[@HiroshiKoto]

I play the GuZheng and Japanese version of it the Koto! 😀 I love always playing them!

[@MagicalKid]

+Yan Luo Yeah, and also Yangqin and Yueqin/Ruan

[@shue-boxx]

Traditional Chinese music is sooooooooo smooth and calm like water and the wind. sigh. :)

[@davecrupel2817]

among the oldest of music types.

[@rinchi3]

Shuemeng lee I agree, it helps me study well😊

[@cgen24]

(there are also some really fast and "bam" ones)

[@SonNightwing9]

you should watch "our shining days" it east vs west

[@chanjohan4894]

SHUESPARTAN LEE when i hear it i imaging water and a bamboo Forest

[@hamzatahir629]

Where the heck is the Guzheng and Guqin, like what???!?!?!?!?

[@47kate12]

oh yea

[@TrixxieRR]

The third one is the Guqin

[@krystiandworak2569]

no, sadly it's not on this list...

[@hansonkewl2377]

Need better English translations

[@mobmoneymoovez6407]

GuZheng is like a Chinese harp.

[@SpaceSoups]

Pipa - 2:08 Er Hu - 3:10 Di Zi - 4:47 Xiao - 5:36 Suona - 5:55 Gong - 6:52 Peng Ling - 7:30

[@pro3973]

thanks!

[@abbeyyuyingwang9299]

Can not believe that Guzheng is not mentioned in this vid. Guzheng is one of the most ancient percussion instrument in China and it has been so popular since!

[@user-dz8uk4dk7n]

Hey guys, please make a part 2 with some of the other traditional instruments people have mentioned here in the comments! I'd love to hear more about the guzheng and guqin! And maybe also talk about Chinese traditional singing, how it's used in folk music, ceremonies, etc. I'm a violinist, but I love traditional Chinese music and how richly expressive and moving it can be.

[@angelinawang7927]

Brandon Brown I picked up guzheng after quitting violin for about 3-4 years and maybe because of the experience and some common sense for the chinese number notes it was very easy to play and get used to! If you ever get the chance you should try one or more of the chinese instruments.

[@enyewox]

Sheng is also worth mentioning.. I guess you need to make part II haha... you're apparently dealing with chinese music lovers here who won't be satisfied with 7-piece only list

[@4godand4thegays73]

Chinese instruments bring so much emotion i love it

[@Demandd]

Was the earliest instrument from China the leaf? Always see them blowing on leaves in drama.

[@HayleyCs]

best comment

[@Anne-zu9pr]

XD

[@tianwenma8598]

+鍾家偉 hahahahahahaha 我觉得应该是那个什么骨笛吧~~~~ 叶子也无法分类吧！？

[@hxcq5883]

@@yanzeng3998 really?

[@chinmaychandraunshuh]

@@tianwenma8598 hmmm

[@jmecklenborg]

Maybe 15 years ago I was riding the NYC subway and had the car to myself. At a station the door opened and a man was playing the Erhu on a deserted platform, directly in my line of sight. The doors closed after 20 seconds and away the train rolled. It was an amazing NYC moment.

[@sophiedong2391]

Why is 古琴 not included it's in almost every ancient Chinese drama

[@philly6264]

It's included in ancient Chinese related comics, there are some in Chinese dramas, but mostly are flutes.

[@hultonclint]

Suona is not distinctively “Chinese” sounding. Every single people/culture of Eurasia, etc got that type of instrument from the Middle East and China was at the tail end of that history. It’s equally Indian sounding, Persian sounding, Egyptians sounding, etc.

[@amritasrinivasan2929]

hultonclint True.

[@lil_weasel219]

Egyptian? No. Egyptians were in north africa lol

[@jovannybates3756]

@@lil_weasel219 what's your point

[@lil_weasel219]

@@jovannybates3756 you too them probably think Egypt is in Eurasia lmao

[@Amidat]

that doesn't make sense. sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder. each region has their own distinct sounding instruments... considering humanity spread out from the middle east - that only makes sense. idiophones were found among tribes native to "the Americas". Are you going to claim those are not unique either since that's not where they started??

[@ziyuanxi433]

I can play guzheng it's is so amazing

[@HiroshiKoto]

Same!!

[@VIsTheMusic]

+Kirito Kirigaya Same!

[@HiroshiKoto]

***** Hey Vi An !!!!!!!!! Im one your biggest fans!!! I hope everything been well friend!! You play amazing and passionate!! lol XD

[@VIsTheMusic]

+Kirito Kirigaya I'm so happy to connect with you this way through musical vibration and appreciation. I'm touched and this means a lot, thank you +Kirito Kirigaya

[@HiroshiKoto]

***** No problem its an honor!! ^^

[@BlackHayateTheThird]

I've volunteered at the Toronto Chinese Orchestra and got to see a fantastic performance by Guo Yazhi who was phenomenal. My classmate was part of the orchestra and is a professional erhu player- she played the (a?) horse song and the erhu truly has so much imagery. I also learnt the yanqin (Chinese clavichord) for an elective class at university. Although I took that course on a whim, I try fell in love with traditional Chinese music because of it. Thank you for the video! I was able to learn more and it reminded me of some good memories.

[@haoweishi1340]

二泉映月 is my all time favourite it makes me cry everytime

[@selinacarpenter]

Haowei Shi yeah:") I learned the 二泉映月 from 二胡. I love it😘

[@nessyno-name3855]

Me: I really wish I could find a video exemplifying different Chinese instruments, talk a little about their traits and differences, that would also tech me how to pronounce them. This video from a channel I know and love: (has already existed for 4 years)

[@HuangYanPing]

5:58 Elaboration/Proof on the term "Chinese sounding" - The use of this term is a short-hand to refer to distinctive sounds that are unique* to the Chinese culture. *or with the greatest visibility in the English-speaking world (since we're communicating in English). The begena is an Ethiopian sounding instrument, while the sitar is an Indian sounding instrument.

[@KarlSheen]

Being a percussionist I adore the tam-tam (Chau gong), in a symphony orchestra i love how quietly it can create a sinister ominous deep fog of a tone yet loudly it can create a bright shimmering brilliance that can cut over the top of any orchestra going full tilt. A great example is Respighi's Pines of rome the Pines of the Appia Way. the constant quiet roll at the beginning creates the mysterious morning mists whilst later it is played loudly echoed by the cymbals representing the bright flashes of sunlight.

[@lilbarz5226]

A few minutes in & I'm already blown away with this channel.

[@diekje8728]

i was watching a clip from NTDTV where they talk about the guzheng just when you were uploading this. thank you so much for all the cultural knowledge you guys are sharing

[@r.l.howard8459]

this channel is so cool!!! i've been really curious about China and Chinese culture lately and every question I search, this channel's team has a video on the subject. thank you so much for making this information so readily available and enjoyable to watch and learn about~!!!!!

[@alifeworthknowing]

The weapon of choice as a martial artist he chose sounds alot like Wei wuxain from a Chinese drama the untamed

[@ml9005]

Thank you so much for the information you guys ! I had the opportunity to try a dizi and I'm absolutely in love ♥

[@aaronrichard5647]

Great video, although you left out my two favourites - the Sheng and the Guzheng!! I am hoping to buy a sheng in China when I am there in October... At the school where I teach Chinese (in Melbourne, Australia), we are actually starting a Chinese classical music ensemble in 2016... For our students who are mostly westerners aged 10-13. The instrumentation we are starting with includes dizi, ruan (da ruan and hong ruan), yangqin, erhu and percussion. Then we will see how the orchestra grows :) At least one other school here in Melbourne has a Chinese instruments orchestra, they have toured to China and Taiwan in past... Chinese people seem quite interested in hearing westerners learn Chinese traditional instruments.

[@catherinelin2861]

What about guqin? :D This is literally my fav out of all Chinese’s instruments! Love the deep and gentle sounds

[@DdotTindall]

This is actually an extremely interesting video especially when it went into the meanings and classifications of the sounds and its value on a sort of minimal chaotic complexity over patterned systematic and layered classical. Btw if you're a music expert and can comfirm the above I'd be interested to know if my hypothesis is true. Thank you im so greatful for you discussing the meanings behind it

[@Lizhi荔枝]

I've played Xiao, erhu, dizi, and guzheng. Xiao is similar to a native American flute. There is another Chinese instrument like Erhu, but it's actually called jinghu. Jinghu is really high pitched and very close to suona in comparison to how loud the instruments are. That's what I remember from my memory.

[@suppohkram]

As a musician I really appreciated this! I've always wanted to learn the 二胡, too! My friend plays the 笛子 and it sounds beautiful!

[@co_rrie]

yeeeesss new video, you guys are my favorite channel. :)

[@Evan8787]

Chinese music is magnificent.

[@aatt3209]

very educational and informative, one of the best clips you have produced, better than watching you eat at some restaurant, I love Chinese music and thank you so greatly for spreading the knowledge

[@barlas2740]

We also have a very similar instrument to the suona in Turkey. Its called a zurna and its mostly played in celebrations like weddings.

[@blargcoster]

The Chinese culture is so beautiful! Such emotion and love put into everything!

[@TheSaneHatter]

I actually DID know a little bit about this, from a "world music" course that I took in college. Once I learned about the erhu, I was able to recognize it in the soundtrack of nearly every movie (or TV show) about China that I saw. ("Last Emperor," anyone?)

[@gerbelle90]

Wonderfully informative! I'm very happy your channel exists :)

[@dear_totheheart]

Loved this so much! Would you make a recommendation of classical Chinese instrumental artists or songs?

[@omarose7504]

LOVE this! Thank you for the good information I have been looking for.

[@777fiddlekrazy]

I have a Pipa, a Guzheng and an Erhu and love them all!! the Erhu sound and play similiar to my violin but has an incredible female voice quality that violin cannot match. the Guzheng has a similiar quality to either piano or harp but due to the string bendings and harp qualities sets itself distinctively apart from any other instrument. Pipa is very distinct while similiar to a uke or guitar or banjo sound has its distinct sound body and string bend due to the deep fingerboard. I truly love these. however...I have not played some of the mentioned flutes or dizi. perhaps I will get one and lear one day. I am horrible with airdriven instruments. LOL! saw Shen Yun in Michigan. what an awesome show!

[@AlanaUrbano]

I LOVE THIS! Thank you so much for helping me in my Graduate Ethnomusicology class!!!!

[@mwpicone]

Great video. Very informative on a topic you don't see to often. Thanks.

[@karen4you]

This is fabulously fascinating. Thank you so much!

[@kimberlyadams2078]

The only one I knew was the gong. XD

[@MysteronLunaris]

How can you forget the sheng and guzheng!? Both are super ancient and seem to be of Chinese origin. I think you are incorrect about the erhu though. It comes from peoples in western China from 1500 to 1000 years ago.

[@matthewl6700]

The erhu originated from Mongol tribes outside of China to the north and west. It was introduced to China long ago. The 'hu' in erhu refers to huqin, literally meaning 'barbarian stringed instrument' named so because of the mongol tribes the ancient Chinese considered to be barbaric. Today in Mongolia you can find the morin khuur, a two-stringed instrument related to the erhu.

[@ilvasushi3660]

The erhu is my favourite instrument, ever. It just makes a sound that is so beautiful!

[@middletech]

You did a better job informing us of ancient Chinese instruments than Wikipedia.

[@trueagentt]

you guys are crazy charismatic! Great video.

[@Hinataluv]

I used to play a lot of these instruments, but i think my top three are still the pipa, yang qin and er hu. They produce the nicest sounds imo, love people who can play the dizi and xiao thoug, its really pretty in sound too.

[@Panda_Roll]

when I heard the Gong my first thought was "TEST YOUR MIGHT!" and the theme song for mortal combat started playing in my head!

[@darrishawks6033]

I just realized that I'm saying "er hu" with a Beijing accent from seeing how y'all just said it I've been saying "ar hu" and I think it's because I met my wife in Beijing and she has apparently influenced my pronunciation lol

[@deanebuckingham7241]

Great vid! Way to put a focus on Chinese classical music! I play erhu and love it!

[@UniquelyJolyn]

Love this video! I personally play 笛子 and really agree to what you guys said in this video. Though Chinese Orchestra is not as popular as Concert Band in Singapore... Anyway thanks for creating this video to "promote" Chinese traditional instruments. ^^

[@IllusionQueen4Eva]

Was totally expecting to see the guqin, since it's in so many dramas, even as a weapon. Was surprised that it wasn't even mentioned in this video, along with the guzheng and the sheng. The erhu's my favourite string instrument, due to how sad and somber it can sound. The dizi's my favourite wind.

[@3migsu]

Wow, believe it or not, the SUONA is used in a traditional folcloric music expression form slaves times in Cuba, this music is called Conga Santiaguera, from the east of this little caribbean island (Santiago City)

[@jrgilbert]

Wonderful video. You have know-it-alls that want to shoot holes in your information, but for all practical purposes this was excellent. I certainly appreciated this. Thank you.

[@fe1ixsam]

Great video! 👍🏻

[@Fruitypebbles489]

Omg yes!! I thought of the old men playing the 二胡 at Chinatown too. Did you ever see the little chinese boy playing the keyboard at the canal st station?? He was sellin CDs lol. And i can't believe you didnt mention 古琴.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

I was just looking for a channel that showed all (or as many instruments as they could) of the instruments in the world because i was wondering about the many instruments I know i have never seen or heard. I wish someone had a channel for instruments of the world but this is a start beacuse i was just watching a video of a small Chinese group and every instrument was new to me!!!

[@RijuChatterjee]

The "suona" seems to be essentially identical in construction, materials, timbre of sound and cultural role to the Indian "shehnai". Even the names sound the same. I wonder which came first, hmm....

[@carlwalther3461]

I love leaning info about Asian food, and now music, from you guys.

[@pardewski6364]

Such a great video

[@VikingBrave]

Great video! Very interesting

[@kenshinvang9374]

I love the Erhu. Currently learning it.

[@austinelvira5097]

thanks! I've learnt something new even I'm a learner of the Chinese traditional intrument

[@sesa1076]

Wow. I can't get away from Shen Yum advertisements anywhere! It does look like an amazing show but I can't imagine their advertising budget. They have two people at every carnival, town fair, etc. that I go to, and a poster in every bank in the Western Hemisphere.

[@Amidat]

it's a political front... funded by those who are against the Chinese government... that's why it is so prevalent.

[@heatherbonin2477]

Super informative! Thanks! :-)

[@MrTwinspica008]

love u guys

[@landonbaytown]

They are great to hear, I have an Erhu (albeit, a cheap $50 one). I also have a Sanshin, while not Chinese, it did originate from the Chinese Sanxian. :)

[@Funnyguyfun7]

what about Guzheng !!!!???

[@andilove18]

When they played the suona instrument in the video I immediately thought of the Indian instrument called Shehnai. I don't know if its origins are linked but it does sound and look similar. Shehnai is also played at wedding ceremonies in India.

[@sabweanaaa]

i play yangqin

[@Minatosaki]

My zhangfu and erzi plays the guqin, didi plays the xiao, and I play the dizi in our family. Though, I am sad that they did not add the Guqin and Guzheng in here since they are also an ancient instruments.

[@karankewat1.10]

Thanks

[@dragonflygrandma]

Thanks, very informative.

[@redcar9949]

I'd pick the dizi or the xiao. I already play the western flute and these sound like they'd be so fun to play

[@Lizhi荔枝]

A kong hou is like a harp/lyre, but still sounds beautiful. Xun is like an ocarina and though it’s loud, the sounds feels like calm cool water.

[@akiko2289]

I'm so happy that you guys did this type of video! I'm in agreement with Dan. I'm especially in love with the 二胡 and really wish I could learn to play it! I wonder if it would be easy to move from a modern flute to the 笛子？

[@MagicalKid]

+Lin Wang The membrane is the troublesome part though...I think...

[@akiko2289]

MagicalKid You play it??!!

[@MagicalKid]

No I used to play the Erhu. But my friend who played the Dizi complained about the membrane tearing or falling off and you have to change it all the time.

[@akiko2289]

MagicalKid Hmm, that does sound rather annoying. But that's cool that you can play the erhu!

[@101hardware101]

Excellent! Thanks!!

[@webwhisper2701]

The instruments are so lovely. I recently found and bought an erhu. Hope perhaps I will learn how to play it!

[@starwarsguy185]

Have you learned?

[@sakuramikan28]

i never saw some of these before, can you also make a vid on classical chinese music/ like how the west have beethoven and mozart, is there a chinese equivalent to them in terms of famous classical composers?

[@chinahktwunity826]

The oldest instrument in China was actually made out of stone, bells-like instruments which when hit in certain places & angles would produce a specific pitch. These were the earlier instruments which would be replaced by the refined BainZhong (Mandarin) or Ping Zhong (Cantonese). The Bainzhong bells were made in the Bronze era, & were more sophisticated, having two tones or pitches for each bell. The actual size of the Bianzhong Chinese Bronze bell sets would be approximately 3-4 meters in length, about the size & length longer than the wall in my room. Usually played by three people. It was used in traditional court settings fit for Emperors, though rarely known nowadays, it is one of the oldest musical instruments known in China.

[@leaflet1686]

I like the Erhu! I would love to learn it

[@christinaw4490]

Lol!! "No!! That's not refined." So funny.

[@erinluttrell1085]

Yo Yo Ma also did a really cool east-west compilation with The Silk Road Ensemble. It's not traditional, but it's a pretty cool and unusually sound featuring instruments and musicians from all around.

[@vantran8736]

I am learning guzheng. It's so beautiful and pure.

[@arandomyoutubeaccount3166]

This was the first video of yours I watched.

[@JonathanHung8]

I play the 琵琶. It's really fun to play :D

[@YanLuo]

+Jonathan Hung me too :p though it was a hassle when bringing it over to U.S., its worth it !!

[@loganlyk]

You are a dude and you play pipa, okay...It almost sounds like a dude playing the harp to me LOL. No offence.

[@JonathanHung8]

loganlyk lol didn't know it was gender specific.... but who cares:) and no *offense* taken.

[@cass8446]

I also play it, but it's more difficult for me. The pain after a long session at the orchestra...And the fear when you realise that you forgot to practice and your fierce teacher is out for your skin !

[@murilocaruy]

Guzheng, drums, and many others, where are they?

[@Calida]

Dan: cause you'd want to use it as a weapon too. Mike: THANK YOU SO MUCH! lol Mike is super excited xD me too, I really wish I had learned one of these too!

[@kwongheng]

you seemed to have missed out 笙 or Sheng. I believe this is also a classical instrument

[@thefanceman]

yous two are cool AF. make a video showing the instruments and like making sound

[@mannymedina6774]

I'm not Chinese but I always wanted to play the Pipa

[@sakuramikan28]

i love this video :) the suona sounds kinda celtic to me

[@hanji_stan9679]

Nae nae killua

[@zhubajie6940]

The Bianzhong and the Bianqing I gather are also used a lot in Confucianism since they evoke the reverence for the most ancient past of the Zhou Dynasty. I remember especially the set in a temple in Nanjing but also played in the Bell Tower of Xi'an. Unfortunately I was not able to see the famous set from Hubei (Zenghouyi Bianzhong or the Marquis of Yi of Zheng Bells) in the Hubei Provincial Museum because it was closed last fall when I was near there. :(

[@MissBelle613]

Yangqin (not mentioned) is actually my personal favorite Chinese instrument, followed by the erhu

[@hassanhasan5703]

there are so many instruments u can talk about!! Plzzz another vid

[@junjungatbos3548]

These guys are a trip😃

[@krishnakanhaiya5845]

Chinese traditional music is very special . it can comand our mind and soul .

[@bromixsr]

I play three on this list, in a mansion I can strike a gong If ever I was needed to. I've always had a propensity towards music and a desire to play something different than everyone else. Plus I just love the sound.

[@goldsparklewrappingpaper504]

One my favorite Chinese instruments is the Hulusi also there is this one BIG Erhu called the Dahu