Traditional Chinese music is renowned for its complexity and beauty, influenced by various cultures throughout history. It is often performed on special occasions such as weddings and folk festivals, during which numerous musicians accompany traditional songs and dances.
Traditional Chinese musical instruments are numerous and have centuries-old origins. Some have evolved and embraced modernity, while others have remained unchanged in form, materials, and sound. Among the most famous instruments are the pipa, various types of bamboo flutes like the dizi, and others such as the erhu and the guqin (a type of seven-stringed zither).

Chinese musical instruments represent an essential element of the country’s culture and have a long and intricate history. Their origins have been shaped by various socio-cultural factors stemming from Indian, Persian, and Mongolian influences. This combination of different stimuli led to the creation of a wide range of instruments and unique musical styles in China. Traditional Chinese music is an art form that dates back thousands of years, evolving slowly to incorporate diverse elements. It can be divided into two main categories: chamber music, played by small groups, and theater music, often accompanied by dances and visual performances. Overall, traditional Chinese music is celebrated for its beauty, complexity, and uniqueness.

Today, Chinese musical instruments are still widely used on occasions such as wedding celebrations and funeral ceremonies, but they have also become an important part of modern music. Many artists incorporate traditional instruments into their music, creating a unique and distinctive sound that blends with the technologies we have available today.
Below, we discuss the characteristics and history of some typical instruments from the Chinese tradition.

Erhu

The erhu is a traditional Chinese two-stringed musical instrument, part of the bowed string family. It is often referred to as the “Chinese violin” due to its shape and sound resembling its Western counterpart.
The erhu is mainly composed of a pearwood body, a long thin neck, two silk or metal strings, a bridge, and a bamboo bow. In its older versions, the resonating box is covered on the sides with a stretched snake skin. The strings pass through the bow, between the bow hair and the neck, making these two parts inseparable unless the strings are dismantled. The erhu’s tone is highly distinctive and emotive, and the instrument can be used to perform traditional Chinese music or modern pieces in an ensemble. In terms of playing technique, the erhu is played by holding the bow between the thumb and index finger and sliding it horizontally along the strings. The left hand adjusts the string tension to define the pitch.

The Suona

The suona is a traditional Chinese wind instrument; it resembles a cross between a recorder and a trumpet, made of bamboo and metal, and is played by blowing into it. It is typically part of an ensemble of wind instruments and is used to perform a variety of traditional Chinese musical pieces. The suona belongs to the aerophone family and has the shape of a long, slender recorder, ending with a metal bell similar to that of a traditional trumpet. Its main feature is its distinctive timbre, capable of imitating the calls of birds or even the human voice. For this reason, it was often used to characterize the entry of cheerful or comedic characters during theatrical performances.
The main technical characteristics of the suona are:

• Length: varies depending on the model, but generally ranges between 20 and 30 cm;

• Material: can be made of bamboo or metal, depending on the player’s preference;

• Number of holes: may have one or more holes on the upper part, used to modify the instrument’s pitch.

The Dizi

The Chinese dizi flute is similar to a Western flute but features six finger holes on the upper part and an additional hole on the bottom for the thumb and pinky fingers. Additionally, it has a semicircular notch at the top of the mouthpiece, which is used to modify the instrument’s sound. The dizi is typically made of bamboo and is used in various modern musical styles, such as classical music, pop, and genres tied to folkloric performances.

The Guqin

The guqin is a stringed musical instrument with a history spanning over 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest instruments in the world. It has been closely associated with Chinese literary and philosophical culture and is considered a symbol of high culture and refinement.
Technically, the guqin consists of a wooden soundboard placed horizontally on a table or stand. It is a seven-stringed instrument played with the fingers, without the use of picks or other objects. The strings pass over a movable bridge that allows adjustment of tension and, consequently, the range of octaves. The guqin is a versatile instrument that can be played solo or in accompaniment with other instruments. Modern versions include amplified models, enabling easy modification of the original timbre using effects and pedals for experimenting with new soundscapes.

The Guzheng

The guzheng can be considered the elder sibling of the guqin, as both belong to the zither family. Unlike its smaller counterpart, this instrument has between 16 and 26 strings.
The guzheng features a soundboard made of pine or birch wood, with strings traditionally made of silk or modern ones made of nylon. The strings are fixed at both ends of the soundboard and can be tightened or loosened using small screws. The range of sounds the guzheng can produce varies depending on the playing technique used. Different “plucking” methods yield distinct timbres, and it can be played with the fingers or with a bamboo or other material pick to further alter the sound.

The Dagu

The dagu is a traditional Chinese percussion instrument played to create powerful and intricate rhythms. It is a large drum struck with a special mallet on the stretched skin covering its body. The dagu has a diameter of about 80 cm and a height of 40 cm and is usually mounted on a stand so the player can sit in front of it. The sound of the dagu can be altered by adjusting the tension of the drum skin or changing the way it is struck with the mallet. This instrument is a staple of traditional Chinese music and is used across many genres, from purely traditional styles to folkloric music associated with specific celebrations.