中國民族音樂資料館 Chinese Music Archive
弓弦類 Bow String Instruments
二胡 Erhu
中胡 Zhonghu
板胡 Banhu
墜子(墜胡) Zhuizi (Zhuihu)
京胡 Jinghu
擂琴 Leiqin
高胡 Gaohu
四胡 Sihu
椰胡 Yehu
馬頭琴 Matouqin
二胡 - Erhu
二胡是我國歷史悠久、流行普遍的拉絃樂器。它的前身最早可見於唐朝，當時以竹片為弓，稱為稽琴，後亦稱奚琴；到北宋時代，以馬尾為弓者由北方少數民族傳入中原，稱為胡琴；到了元朝開始在全國廣泛流行。經歷代演奏者的長期實踐，隨著演奏技術的發展提高，其結構形制不斷改進；又根據流行地區和不同應用的需要，逐步演化出了若干不同的品種（如京胡、板胡、二胡、四胡、墜胡等），二胡（亦稱南胡）是其中的一種。後來，二胡又分化出了高胡（高音二胡，亦稱粵胡）、中胡（中音二胡）、大胡（大二胡）等，其大小不一，奏法基本相同。
二胡在相當的時期內，大多用於戲曲伴奏和某些地區性的民間音樂合奏（如「江南絲竹」等）；直到五四運動之後，由劉天華先生開始，二胡才有了獨奏表演，亦成為院校的教學內容，走上了專業化的道路。抗戰時期，它被用於新歌劇和救亡歌曲的伴奏，在革命文藝活動中發揮了很大作用，新中國成立後，由於國家的關懷重視，二胡的發展提高很快，形制已基本統一，演奏方法更加科學化、系統化，演奏技巧和表現力已相當豐富，應用也更加廣泛。
二胡的基本音色圓潤優美，音域可達三個八度以上，能做各種不同幅度的力度變化和非常細緻的音色變化，因此，在其音域許可的範圍內，能演奏各種不同節奏、不同速度、不同風格的曲調，表達出各種不同的思想感情，特別對於演奏歌唱性較強的抒情旋律尤為擅長。它在獨奏表演中，不但適於和揚琴及小型彈撥樂隊等伴奏形式合作，而且適於和鋼琴伴奏合作；它在伴奏和合奏中是主要的旋律樂器，能與同類拉弦樂器、彈撥樂器及吹管樂器奏出很好的和聲或複調效果；此外，它在與琵琶、揚琴、古箏等彈撥樂器或與同類拉絃樂器的重奏中，也能使其樂器性能得到較好的發揮。
二胡的表現力也有一定的局限性，例如，高音區力度不能奏得很強，中低音區奏八度之外的連續快速跳進（指非保留空弦的）比較困難，以及總的音域尚不夠寬，音量還不夠大等，這需要由製造、教學和演奏等有關人員共同努力，繼續改進，使這個深受群眾歡迎的樂器逐步地更加完善起來。
Erhu is a popular bowed instrument and has a long history since Tang dynasty in China. In the early times, its bow was made by bamboo and had a name called Ji-qin. Later it was renamed xi-qin. In Northern Song dynasty, the northern minorities introduced their huqin to us, of which, the material of the bow was changed from bamboo to horse tail. By Yuan dynasty, it was widely spread in China. Under a long period of development, it derived gradually into various species (e.g. : jinghu, banhu, erhu, sihu, zhuihu, etc.), erhu (also known as nanhu) was one kind of it. Later on, the erhu was differentiated into gaohu (tenor erhu), zhonghu (alto erhu) and dahu (bass erhu) according to their pitch and sizes. While their performing techniques were basically the same.
In a long period of time, erhu was used as an accompany instrument for the opera or used in the regional folk music ensemble (e.g.: Jiangnan Sizhu). Around 1919, LIU Tian-hau began to use it as a solo instrument and wrote training materials for it in the course of the Universities’ training centres.
Erhu has a beautiful timbre and its range of scale reaches to three octaves in normal. Therefore, to the extent permit of its range, it can play all kinds of different rhythms, different speeds and different style of tunes. In solo performances, it is not only suitable for performing with yangqin or small plucked string accompaniment, but also suitable for the piano accompaniment. It is one of the main melodic instruments in the ensemble. It can play harmoniously with other string and wind instruments.
It is still some room for the improvement of the erhu. Especially, reflected in playing the strong action on the high ranged area, playing the rapid notes out of an octave. It also has the problems of too narrow range and not enough volume. To make the instrument more perfect gradually, these can be solved and improved in future through the experiences of teaching, performing and manufacturing.
京胡 - Jinghu
京胡，最初也稱胡琴，是京戲的主要伴奏樂器。清乾隆末年（一七八五年左右）隨著京戲的形成，在胡琴的基礎上改制而成。
京胡的琴筒竹製，蒙以蛇皮，（現在有用尼龍織品代替蛇皮的）琴杆竹製。據京劇界老藝人說，早期的京胡用軟弓拉弦（就是不張緊馬尾的弓子），十九世紀後才出現硬弓。現在安徽、河南等省仍有人使用軟弓演奏。使用這種弓演奏，有一種特殊的碎弓效果，演奏技巧也是很高的。
Jinghu is a kind of fiddle and is also called erhu, which is one of the main instruments for accompaniment of the Beijing Opera. It was derived from huqin at the time of the formation of Beijing Opera around 1785. The instrument is made of bamboo and at one end of the sound box is covered with snake skin and is steadily changed to use nylon fabric for replacement nowadays. According to some old artists, they said that in the early time the tension of the bow used is very loose and soft than that used today. The tight and hard bow is appeared at around 19th century. The old style bow is still be used in Anhui and Henan today. The performance with soft bow should have a higher skill and can get a special effect in the technique of broken arch.
高胡 - Gaohu
高胡，就是廣東音樂中的粵胡，在廣東也稱為二胡。約在上世紀二十年代根據二胡改革而成，琴筒比二胡小，定音比二胡高四至五度，所以叫它高胡。外弦用鋼絲弦，內弦用鋼絲纏弦（也有用絲弦的），拉時兩腿夾琴筒，用以控制音量及減少沙音，高胡音色清脆、嘹亮。
新中國成立後，得到廣泛的應用，現已成為民族樂隊中的高音拉絃樂器，它用於合奏、伴奏和獨奏。
Gaohu is a kind of fiddle known as Yuehu in Cantonese music and is also called erhu by Guangdong musicians. It was reformed from the erhu in the 1920s. The sound box of gaohu is smaller than that of the erhu and it is tuned at g-d or a-e. This high pitch tuning let it has the name of gaohu. The strings it used is made of steel. One of it is bound with silver. When in performance, the instrument is set between the two knees. It is now widely used in the traditional orchestra as high pitch instrument for orchestral works, solo and accompaniment.
二弦 (廣東) Erxian (Canton)
二弦，拉弦樂器。大約在清代咸豐年間（1855），從徽班引進二黃時，吸收徽胡而創制出之「廣東二弦」，在粵調音樂中通稱「二弦」，但與各地之二弦及潮州二弦不盡相同。
二弦，琴筒竹製，面徑7公分，筒深13公分，前內端，鑲扁平硬木略呈圓錐形粗環，使振膜稍窄，蒙以厚蟒皮，後端全空，發音粗獷，帶沙音。琴桿木製，平頭無飾，約長47公分，上設兩後揷式琴軫，設千斤，張粗弦，配硬弓。
在早期粵調音樂的絲竹管弦組合五架頭（二弦、提琴、三弦、月琴、簫笛）中，為領奏樂器，即「頭架」（上手）。
Erxian, atwo-stringed bowed instrument, was derived from the major musical string instrument of Anhui Opera around 1855. This new instrument was then treated as CantoneseErxianwidely and with different aspects from the erxianof the other places in China.
Erxian is a fiddle with a bamboo sound box and is covered with snake skin.It has a long stem with two silk strings bound over a bridge, and which has now changed to steel ones. The tight and hard bow is used for the performing.
This instrument was widely used in the traditional Cantonese orchestra and was the main and leading instrument of wujiatou in Cantonese music.
中胡 - Zhonghu
新中國成立後，我國一些民族樂隊為了加強中音部的表現力，劉明源率先在二胡的基礎上創製了中胡。現在已成為民族樂器中廣泛使用的樂器，它不但用於合奏、伴奏，而且也用於獨奏。
–Zhonghu
Zhonghu is a kind of fiddle modified from erhu by LIU Ming-yuan. Its reformation is to fulfill the need of alto instrument in the traditional orchestra. It is a solo instrument and be widely used in the ensemble and the accompaniment.
椰胡 - Yehu
椰胡是廣東戲曲、曲藝的伴奏樂器，形狀與板胡相似，音箱用椰子殼製成，面板用薄桐木板，背面開五個小孔，成金錢眼狀，用小貝殼做馬（也有用竹馬的），張二根絲弦，音色柔和渾厚，除作為伴奏樂器外，已成為獨奏、重奏和合奏樂器。
Yehu is a kind of fiddle used in Cantonese Operatic music. It has a similar shape as banhu. The sound box of the instrument is made with coconut shell and covered by a thin Chinese parasol plates. At the back, it has five old coin-shaped holes. It has a set of two silk strings mounted over a shellfish as bridge. Apart from accompaniment, it is also a solo instrument and always be used in ensemble music.
墜子（墜胡）
Zhuizi (Zhuihu)
墜子也稱墜琴，是河南曲藝墜子書的主要伴奏樂器。約在清末演唱鶯歌柳書（一種說唱音樂）時，將伴奏樂器小三弦，改革成為墜琴，墜琴的音箱如三弦而稍小，鼓面由蟒皮改為桐木板，琴杆保留了三弦的指板，用馬尾竹弓拉奏，因而成為拉弦樂器，音色渾厚。
另一種制度的稱為墜胡或二弦，琴筒如二胡而稍長，一端蒙蛇皮，琴杆如三弦的指板，音色高亢、柔美，是河南戲曲音樂小調曲子和山東琴書、呂劇等的主要伴奏樂器，現在主要流行於河南、山東一帶。
墜琴和墜胡除用於曲藝、戲曲的伴奏外，還用於合奏和獨奏。
Zhuizi also called zhuiqin is the main instrument for accompaniment of Henan ballad singing. It was reformed from the quyi accompaniment instrument sanxian. Its sound box is slightly smaller than the sanxian and covered with thin Chinese parasol plates instead of snake skin. It retained sanxian’s long finger board and used bow to perform and became a kind of bowed instrument. Another kind is called zhuihu or erxian. Its sound box likes erhu with a sanxian finger board is used for accompaniment of Henan, Shandong Operatic music. Zhuiqin and zhuihu are also used as solo instruments and always be used in ensemble works.
板胡 - Banhu
板胡，又名梆胡、秦胡、胡呼、大弦、瓢等，它是伴隨戲曲梆子腔的出現，在胡琴的基礎上產生的樂器。大約在明末清初，隨著梆子腔的興起而流行，後為多種地方戲曲和曲藝採用，如河北梆子、評劇、呂劇、豫劇、晉劇、秦腔、蒲劇、郿鄠、蘭州鼓子、道情等。
板胡的音箱用椰殼或木制，面板用薄桐木板，琴杆用較硬的烏木或紅木，張二根弦、馬尾竹弓，音色明亮、高亢，適於表現熱烈奔放的曲調。
Banhu is a kind of fiddle also known as banghu, qinhu, huhu, daxian and piao. It is an accompaniment instrument for bangzi operatic music. Around the early Qing dynasty, with the rise of bangzi opera, it was widely used by Hebei bangzi, Ping opera and also Shangdong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi opera. The sound box of the instrument is made with coconut shell or wood and cover with thin Chinese parasol plate. The stem is made with hard wood and has a set of two strings performing with bow. It is suitable to play warm and flowing melody.
擂琴 - Leiqin
擂琴又稱大雷，是王殿玉在墜琴的基礎上改革製作的，琴筒銅制，前面蒙蟒皮，琴杆與弦軸用硬木制，兩軸，張弦兩根，五度定弦，用馬尾弓拉奏，全長約一百一十釐米，音量較大，音色柔和圓潤，可類比人聲、多種管樂器和打擊樂器演奏的音響效果、戲曲唱腔、鳥獸鳴叫聲等。並有獨特的按指方法和演奏技巧，俗稱「大雷拉戲」、「單弦拉戲」、「巧變絲弦」等。
Leiqin also known as dalei is modified from the zhuiqin by WANG Dian-yu. It has a bronze sound box and is covered with snake skin in one side. The stem and the tuning peg are made of hard wood. It has a set of two strings tuning at a range of perfect fifth and playing with a bow. The whole instrument is approximately 110 cm. The sound is loud and the timbre is soft. By means of a unique methodology and performance skills, it is always performed to imitate human sounds, wind instruments and percussions, operatic singing, voice calls of animal, etc. It is commonly known as Dalei laxi ( Operatic songs by dalei), Danxian laxi ( Operatic songs by xianzi) and Qiaobian sixian (Capricious variation by string instruments).
四胡 - Sihu
四胡，也稱胡琴，蒙古族稱為侯勒、四弦，《律呂正義後編》中還稱它為提琴。十八世紀以前已經流行於我國內蒙和華北地區，為蒙、漢兩族人民常用的樂器，主要用於說唱、二人台、皮影等的伴奏和民間器樂合奏，在內蒙古地區也用於獨奏。
四胡的琴筒木制，蒙以蟒皮，琴杆用烏木或紅木製成，張四根弦，第一、三弦（內弦）和第二、四弦（外弦）各為一組，每組音高相同。竹弓，馬尾分成兩股，分別夾在一、二弦和三、四弦之間。
四胡演奏方法與二胡大致相同，但在蒙古族說唱音樂的伴奏中，有時左手中指或無名指從弦下以指甲頂弦來代替按弦，有時還從弦下彈弦，並用弓子杆敲擊琴筒，加強節奏，製造氣氛。
Sihu is a kind of fiddle also known as huqin. It has been popular in northern China and Inner Mongolia since 18th century. The Mongolian also called it houle, sixian or tiqin. Besides used as a solo instrument, it is always used in ensemble works and accompaniment for rappers and shadow show. It has a wooden sound box covered by snake skin in one side. The stem is made of hard wood and has two sets of strings located alternately and tuning in the same pitch. The bowstring is divided into two shares in between the first set and the second set of strings respectively. Sihu is played almost the same as the erhu.
馬頭琴 - Matouqin
馬頭琴，蒙古語稱莫林胡爾，是蒙古族拉弦樂器，因琴杆上端雕有馬頭而得名，相傳公元十二世紀已在蒙古族中流傳。
音箱為松木製成，呈梯形，兩面蒙以馬皮或羊皮，琴杆細長，用榆木或紫檀木製。兩根弦，用馬尾製成，弓毛也是馬尾製造，演奏時弓子不夾在弦中。馬頭琴發音低沉，音量較小，定弦與一般拉弦樂器相反，外弦音低，內弦音高，多為四度定弦。
馬頭琴除了作為獨奏樂器外，也是民歌、說唱音樂的伴奏樂器，也可與四胡等合奏。
演奏方法常用以下兩種：一種是用左手指的二、三關節處按弦；一種是用指甲從弦下向上頂弦。後一種指法所發音量較前一種大而清亮，聲音結實有力。因琴弓和琴身分開，所以可奏出雙音，增加了色彩和表現力。馬頭琴善於演奏柔和細膩的抒情樂曲，特別適合於演奏悠長遼闊的旋律，在伴奏民歌時，多用三度、四度的顫音來模仿演唱者的一些特點。
新中國成立後，對馬頭琴進行了改革，擴大了音箱，改用蟒皮蒙面；弓子改為富於彈性的弓子，用尼龍絲弦代替馬尾弦，使音量增大。將定弦提高了四度，既保持了馬頭琴原有的柔和、深厚的音色，又增加了清晰、明亮、有力的特點。
Matouqin is a Mongolian folk string instrument with a long history since 12th century. It has a horse head carved in the upper part of the stem, so it is called matouqin ( horse-head qin). The instrument is made of wood about a meter in length. The sound box is in the shape of a trapezoid covered with horse or sheep skin. The string is made from the hair of horse tail. When a bow is drawn between the two strings, the mellow sound is thus erected. It is the most commonly used musical instrument in Mongolian minorities, often used in solo, in accompaniment and in ensemble. There are two special fingering skills for matouqin performance. One is that using the second or third joint of the left hand finger to press the string. Another one is using the nail to push up the string. The sound is louder and clearer in using the latter fingering than the former one. In new China, matouqin has been reformed by using nylon strings instead of horse tail. The volume is increased, the sound quality is more clear, bright and strong.