The Erhu
The erhu is a Chinese two-string bowed instrument, sometimes called the Chinese violin. With no fingerboard and a warm, singing tone close to the human voice, it is one of the most expressive instruments in calm East Asian music.
弾 Play it yourself
Play the erhu
Play the erhu right here, from recorded notes; the line under the board says exactly which recording you hear. Nothing plays until you touch it.
More from the Chinese scholar’s garden: Guqin · Guzheng · Dizi · Pipa. All seven, Japanese and Chinese, are in East Asian instruments.
The erhu is a Chinese two-string bowed instrument, sometimes called the Chinese violin. With no fingerboard and a warm, singing tone close to the human voice, it is one of the most expressive instruments in calm East Asian music.
Its voice
Warm, plaintive, and remarkably vocal, the erhu is often said to sound like a human voice — capable of great tenderness and longing. Its smooth slides and expressive vibrato give calm music an emotional, breathing quality.
The erhu (二胡) is a Chinese bowed string instrument with just two strings and a small resonating body traditionally covered with snake skin. The bow hair runs between the two strings, and there is no fingerboard — the player stops the strings in mid-air.
Its ancestors were played in China over a thousand years ago, and it is a leading voice in Chinese music. Because pitch is found entirely by ear and touch, the erhu can slide seamlessly between notes.
How the erhu sings
Two strings, a python-skin drum, and a bow trapped between the strings — no fingerboard at all.
Good to know
What is an erhu?
The erhu is a traditional Chinese two-string bowed instrument, sometimes called the Chinese violin. It has a warm, vocal tone and no fingerboard, so notes are found by touch in mid-air.
Why does the erhu sound like a human voice?
Its two strings, close bowing, and lack of a fingerboard let players slide smoothly between pitches and add expressive vibrato, producing a singing, speech-like quality.
How many strings does an erhu have?
The erhu has just two strings. The bow is threaded between them, and the player changes the note by pressing the strings without touching a fingerboard.
Is the erhu used in relaxing music?
Yes. Its warm, emotional tone appears often in calm and meditative East Asian music, including the instruments room in this garden.
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