Zhonghu

Infobox Instrument
name= Zhonghu
names=


classification=
*Bowed string instrument
range=
related=
* Banhu (China)
* Erhu (China)
* Gaohu (China)
* Huqin (China)

The "zhonghu" (中胡, pinyin: "zhōnghú") is a low-pitched Chinese bowed string instrument. It is a member of the huqin family together with the erhu and gaohu, and was developed in the 20th century as the alto member of the huqin family (similar to the European viola) to be used in orchestras of Chinese traditional instruments.

The "zhonghu" is the same as the erhu but is slightly larger and is lower pitched. Its body is covered on the playing end with snakeskin. The instrument has two strings, which are generally tuned to the interval of a fifth, to A and E or to G and D (this latter tuning equivalent to the violin's lowest two strings).

External links

Video

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16619276 Video of Xiaohui Ma playing "zhonghu"] (click "Video: Ma XiaoHui Tells the Story of Her Erhu" to watch)

ee also

*Huqin
*Music of China
*Traditional Chinese musical instruments
*String instruments