An Introduction to the Pipa

[@lg1thompson305]

I'm an elementary school music teacher in the US. And I trying to show my young students instruments from China/Asia, without actually owning any. I found your video very informative, demonstrating tuning and Pipa techniques. I loved your very nice examples of Pipa repertoire. Very well done! Thank you so much!

[@mirtikaschultz3282]

I was reading a novel where a character plays the pipa. I wasn't familiar with the instrument, so I googled. Thank you for this nicely done introoduction. A pleasure to watch and listen.

[@markeyeo]

Love the five finger tremolo, so unique among lute instruments. I can't wait to visit you next time I'm in S'pore.

[@boozoochavis7506]

And I thought playing western instruments was difficult?! Very beautiful, thank you for demonstrating these instruments and sharing your knowledge.

[@vivianpham7742]

I personally find traditional chinese instruments hard because there arent many tutorials on how to play it

[@gfj06]

It's not the instruments but the cultural methods used I'm sure they can be play like a guitar but that's how it's done in their culture. Nonetheless this is beautiful

[@yuange3]

i want to play this instrument so much

[@Han-kw3cm]

No wang zhe

[@VinhNguyen-vw9qw]

Then do it. Don’t let your dreams be dreams.

[@julianhsu5041]

I played pipa for 3 yrs from 7th grade to 9th grade. I haven't played it for over 30 years and forgot how to play it. The demonstrations remind me of the old days when I played it for 4 hours almost daily.

[@SagucuTegin]

This instrument invented in the Afghanistan-Gandhara region about B.C 200's... There is alot of depictions about this lute in the 'Gandhara' culture.

[@honeyboohoo]

Idk tho, most teachers just says it came from central asia...... And doesn't specify where it came from bc, we don't even know where it originated XD

[@aatt3209]

I am 55 and too old to learn playing the pipa, most likely I will just have to listen to pipa musicians and enjoy this instrument vicariously. I found this segment very educational and informative.

[@Aeiouuoiea777]

It's never too late, you can do it! Maybe you won't become a virtuoso like Wu-Man, but never limit yourself 👍

[@rachels.5887]

You're never too old to learn a new instrument. My Mom is almost 50 and is about to start her life long dream of Violin (She doesn't know it yet. I am going to get her one for Christmas).

[@yuetani]

Rachel S. Ooh! Nice

[@ErraticFaith]

55? One of the best players locally began at 74! If you make age an excuse, it will always be that. An excuse is less rewarding than an achievement. 90+ year olds performing gymnastic rolls in the park and you are 35 years younger than they. Get up and do whatever you want. It's life. Spend it properly.

[@rebeccaa9257]

What a beautiful instrument and a very nice video. I saw this instrument on avatar the last Airbender and had to learn more.

[@honeyboohoo]

Yea i saw it too hahahaha

[@lexiassgee4447]

Just imagine the lofi tracks you can produce with tunes like this . Beautiful!

[@SandraParejaS]

I’m here because GarageBand IOS ❤️ what a beautiful Chinese instrument! 👏🏻

[@暧昧-u8e]

Such a beautiful instrument that makes beautiful sounds. I really wanna play one.

[@hunteaibegicannot]

Same here I look at buying one but the cheapest I saw was $350 and I’m broke 😂

[@暧昧-u8e]

@@hunteaibegicannot oh gosh. Guess we have to keep saving up then 😩

[@KapkztAnimates]

@@暧昧-u8e not to make u sad but... i have one

[@暧昧-u8e]

@@KapkztAnimates and? Can u play it?

[@KapkztAnimates]

@@暧昧-u8e yes-

[@eliz_scubavn]

I play erhu, but now I want a pipa.

[@Serjo777]

+Elizabeth Gould What's a why?

[@eliz_scubavn]

Serjo777 damn, that should read 'erhu'. Stupid phone.

[@Serjo777]

+Elizabeth Gould lol

[@brittanymitchell4216]

Same here. I love the sound of a pipa. Trying to convince my husband to buy one. He has his heart set on a shamisen which is equally awesome. I guess we'll see.

[@許郁仁]

Gorgeous performance

[@joesiemoneit4145]

gotta love chinese music! i will try some of these right hand techniques on my lute!

[@ItzJeweled]

Love the sound, for sure on my list

[@zhilechen8653]

Chun Yu !!!! My favorite song to play !!!

[@zhilechen8653]

Piece...Maybe

[@yuetani]

Zhile Chen for me it’s so friggin hard T ^ T

[@honeyboohoo]

@@yuetani a rose for me is pretty much harder for me XD, but chun yu uses the fanyin while doing an arpeggio, which also makes it hard

[@AnQiao]

Great background music. And thanks for sharing.

[@JR-ep4wr]

Lol it would take me literally a whole year to play that standard sia, pipa is probably one of the harder instruments among other Chinese instruments

[@rachels.5887]

I have a Chinese Flute called a Dizi and what's so hard about learning Chinese instruments is there's not much English information on how to play. I usually play Dizi by ear. I know like zero notes or if it even has any.

[@honeyboohoo]

Yea, lol, with all that *left hand* postures haahhaha, but once i have one, i would definitely work hard on it

[@honeyboohoo]

@@rachels.5887 you can search up english dizi fingerings though...

[@rachels.5887]

@@honeyboohoo Have Many times.

[@honeyboohoo]

@@rachels.5887 oh ok

[@shibainuwalker]

I once owned one of these someone at the university gave it to me as a gift. It was in pieces I had to repair it. Being a guitar player I had no idea how to play it. I tried to finger the pointy frets on the neck and had no clue that you play the frets on the body of the pi pa. This video was very helpful.

[@Aeiouuoiea777]

I'm in Scotland, no masters to be found. I don't think that would be wise to order one and trying alone. Otherwise, I'd like to learn the Pipa!!

[@ihmsfm1040]

You can learn online maybe. I also want to learn dizi. But it's not possible in my country

[@Sacredfireworld]

I went to a chinese music concert yesterday in Edinburgh where they played Pipa so there are people around.

[@sudiptachowdhury1497]

@@ihmsfm1040 I bought a dizi and am learning online. Also making huge progress. I am Indian

[@ihmsfm1040]

@@sudiptachowdhury1497 Are you Bengali? I'm from Bangladesh btw. Where did you buy the dizi from?

[@banazgurung9242]

So true....same is the condition with me here in India in Sikkim😭

[@dh2602]

So beautiful. I almost bought one because of that unique, peaceful and beautiful sound. Glad I did "did not" buy it though. Not a good time in my life to try and self-teach this beautiful instrument. Just got to face reality. But I can listen and truly appreciate its resonance and beauty at the hand of a skilled musician.

[@vasilisa_motelek]

I'm just an ordinary Russian girl, but this instrument is simply beautiful! I play the guitar and love it very much, but the pipa really made an impression on me

[@karanpartapsingh1729]

Thank you

[@billthecat666]

I need to get some Pipa music to listen to.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Tim Sway made an Electric 5 String Pipa for Jiaju of The Either & they should be built more often cause the easier action, flatter body, & being able to plug in headphones makes it even easier for beginners. I'd take that 5 String Electric Pipa, & built a version that has a Buzzing Bridge to make it sound like a Sitar called the 5 String Electric Sitar-pa.

[@tmwalton]

him playing a spring piece in 29 december

[@ineedacupoftaeandkookiewit8952]

I played the Guzheng for 9 yrs, I want to try pipa so bad

[@myself3209]

Really good, informative video. And a very nice guy if I may say so.

[@timpenfield5]

MANY THANX FROM LA, THAT'S IT, I'm buying 1

[@namly9868]

Thank you very much

[@lordreiz9208]

Amazing

[@dungtran-qi7kh]

Please make a tutorial on the yueqin!!

[@dlmusicproduction3132]

I just picked up a Pipa and I had a very important question about set up. What should the measurement be of the strings to the frets at the 12th on up? I'm measuring 7mm, which I find it too high making it hard to play. Thank you for answering the question. :-)

[@honeyboohoo]

U can play it the nanyin pipa style though, which is like a position an how you play a guitar

[@dlmusicproduction3132]

@@honeyboohoo It's more about the height of the string rather than the position. Top string is 8mm high. Bottom string is 7mm. Thanks for your reply, though.

[@honeyboohoo]

@@dlmusicproduction3132 thx for the correction though ❤❤❤

[@tc0336]

I want to learn how to play this so bad. Where is a good place to order great quality Pipas?

[@JR-ep4wr]

Eason music store they should have it:)

[@johannsebastianbach7248]

@@JR-ep4wr and in the video they are at eason music place Lavender street

[@honeyboohoo]

At orientalmusic.org or at sound of mountain, but eason music stands out for the quality of the pipas that they sell (they are not a music instrument producing store) . The two other websites are pretty good though, especially with customer servicr

[@ДжеймсКолвин]

I want to learn Little Soldier Boy. RIP Mako

[@shanasakai2238]

Hello fellow fan!

[@twokool4skool129]

Your playing startled my cat.

[@istolethisaccount]

I’m the guy to pick some metal ass pickups on there and djent

[@faelan1950]

hell yeah dude

[@aztib]

Love the pipa

[@ohskunt1]

Soothing

[@c4chris177]

What are the first few frets that stick out for? I can't figure it out and I never see anyone fretting there.

[@kiirolozanogarcia3003]

What are those circular lute things in the background?

[@origameegamingandtutorials2429]

The ruan (阮)

[@balabard8238]

Fist several xiang-frets (相) are different of other 24 pin-frets (品). The xiang-frets looks like tooth on upper part of the instrument's neck. How to calculate the neck tooth (or ledges?) quantity, are there 6 xiang-frets and 1 nut (出口相) or should calculate as 7? Are there any special different playing technics for the ledges and frets?

[@shnairaa]

Can foreigners learn chinese traditional instruments? I heard some countries do not allow foreigners learning their instruments. I really want to learn this instrument.

[@honeyboohoo]

Uhm, eason music have online lessons tho

[@ErraticFaith]

What exactly do you think we are going to do as Chinese? Murder you in your sleep because you enjoy our culture and want to learn it? Most people are the same. Flattered by interest in what they care about, endlessly wanting to talk about it. It's exciting to learn something with a big history. Eason isn't a bad resource. Dan Tang also. Plenty to help you. It's of course easier to grasp the language and culture something was based in. Plenty of people as individuals have opinions on who they want to teach and don't - but that only applies to them. There will always be someone who wants to spend time on you. So pick something and learn. Time is easily wasted.

[@rxmsd1233]

I just remembered Uncle Iroh with this

[@dylansaus]

Winter, spring, summer and fall

[@Ipman-zw4yc]

I expected him to play Ambush from Ten Sides. Been watching too many Chinese instrumental videos

[@williamrichmond814]

Are those friction pegs on the pipa?

[@dimitardimitrov1559]

What kind of strings are you using for this instrument? And where can i buy them in case i break a string?

[@yuetani]

They usually use nylon strings. You can buy some Dunhuang Pipa Strings online.

[@honeyboohoo]

You can buy at eason music

[@honeyboohoo]

But i preferably like the shanghai dunhuang ones, but in terms of the pipa itself, i like xinghai better

[@lacib_asmr]

Are there mini pipa’s

[@laszlonagy4771]

I'm not sure about it, but if I know well the "Liuqin" what are you looking for. Size: 68 (length) * 23.5 cm (maximum width of the sound box)

[@groovesmedia989]

I believe I see one behind him in the shop. Looks like 4 strings to me

[@noacastillo9608]

@@groovesmedia989 that is a Liuqin, which is the Chinese Mandolin.

[@user-fx7fi6hp4g]

There are also child-sized pipas

[@honeyboohoo]

@@user-fx7fi6hp4g yea, but it is a bit "not to good" sounding and is commonly not too durable, so that's why parents who buys a pipa for their child will buy a standard sized one (but ofc some kids can't reach some notes cause the frets are too high)

[@MusicManMichaelDavis]

I don't play the Pipa will I play the bongos and mouth trumpet and do other various instruments with my mouth I also sing this is a very beautiful instrument

[@markjacksonturner6462]

Where do the four open strings fall on the grand staff? What is the lowest string, when open, on the bass cleff?

[@honeyboohoo]

Uhm, huh? But the tuning is A D E A Which the string is thickest from the left and thinner at the right

[@honeyboohoo]

(also chinese music scores more commonly use the numbered notation, called 简谱 (jianpu), not the western staff)

[@thereincarnated4961]

I'm a violinist and I don't have one, so I just used my violin.

[@TrungGDTN]

How to buy a pipa with a good price while i am living in Vietnam ?

[@honeyboohoo]

Find a good source

[@luluflowers9277]

Thank you for beautiful performance! Can Pipa play in any keys just like many western instruments? Or can it play in limited keys?

[@xuhedong]

It can play in any keys, as long as you change the position of your left hand.

[@tanaugustine6330]

Hi do u sell pipa ... if yes , where is it cause i need to buy one ...

[@yuetani]

Yes they do! Go on Eason Music website!

[@jaineeking4219]

I play the clarinet but I want to try the pipa

[@honeyboohoo]

But you should be ready on the resources, there isn't many english books for the pipa, but u can find online tutors

[@omegamelody6947]

do you really need longer nails to play the pipa? or can you use a pick instead?

[@JR-ep4wr]

Ye you do

[@123bella3]

No you wear a fake fingernail on every nail😁😁

[@user-fx7fi6hp4g]

Fake nails and tape !!

[@pussycat2755]

Can anyone tell me what is the name of instrument on the right ????

[@yuetani]

Pussy Cat that is the liuqin and the ruan

[@clifford2222]

太棒了

[@persahedlund4722]

Ok well let me hear some distorted rock n roll from that beast!

[@yiyilim3837]

Does anyone knows where can i buy a pipa in malaysia ?

[@yuetani]

Yi Yi Lim maybe go online to website: Eason Music. They ship all around the world.

[@Majeed.]

이건 좋았

[@Celomar]

If you have years of guitar experience, Is that in anyway translated ?

[@honeyboohoo]

No

[@honeyboohoo]

The techniques are a bit more complicated than the guitar techniques (also idk why some people think this is a "guitar", its basically a lute hahaha) also the fingering is not going inside, but outside

[@Luke44668]

I played this on garage band

[@neville132bbk]

Always beautiful. Better not to have background music when you're explaining things.

[@shayne-1880]

How do you tune a pipa?

[@yuetani]

Maybe buy a Pipa Tuning app? The tuning is A D E A

[@ae_therx]

same as guitar tuning app , just to the correct note A E D A and to 224 or 226 if im not wrong

[@huuvinhvotran7309]

How much?

[@yuetani]

Hữu Vinh Võ Trần They can be expensive... maybe 250-8,000$!!!

[@yuetani]

There’s one online for 118 USD

[@honeyboohoo]

U can use taobao hahhahahaa

[@James-en1ob]

The pipa pegs looks interesting (no pun intended)

[@ibrokemyownheart4953]

Guess I’ll never see myself playing songs from avatar tla 😂😂

[@Blackbone242]

Aquaeous transmission brought me here😆

[@julioliboskeez6029]

I want to pipa bit en Sudamérica not selling. T_T

[@yuetani]

go on Eason music! They ship all around the world.

[@johannsebastianbach7248]

The pipa pegs looks like erhu peg and the 1st pipa to the left has a black peg and look like erhu black peg you know what im saying ;)

[@MichelleMCTran]

I play the guzheng

[@yuetani]

Avia Littlehawk nice!

[@fatimatess8379]

I play Guzheng, PIPA is too dificult to me

[@ihmsfm1040]

Where did you learn?

[@gtrmusic69]

Weird thing in a music based video like this one to add music when he is not playing music. Strange editorial decision.

[@KapkztAnimates]

gtrmusic69 no HES playing music theres no acting

[@nonstopspicytom3485]

Pipa to me is a maller guzheng

[@honeyboohoo]

No tho........

[@nonstopspicytom3485]

@@honeyboohoo idk why i said that tbh.. 1 year ago lmao

[@honeyboohoo]

@@nonstopspicytom3485 its ok ahahhahaah

[@johnhistoryvideos1770]

I didn't know they were big like that. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mamukarob2987]

J2

[@michaelturner4457]

A friend of mine bought a pipa...thinking it would play like a guitar...how wrong he was.

[@tiffnicely]

:51

[@raigeahv]

Pipa no no... Pee Pa

[@vaydasboy]

flex

[@FerminaHaddenProakzmia]

Moore Jose Lee Jeffrey Taylor Ruth

[@ophiuchus1116]

It's Japanese

[@origameegamingandtutorials2429]

No pipa is chinese biwa came from pipa from China