new beginner needing advice

[yueyashan]

Hi everybody!

I am new arrival on this website, and I am very happy to have found site specialised in Chinese music instrument.

I am not a chinese, I don't speak good english (I apologize in advance) because I come from France, and I live there.

But, I am fond of the asian culture, and the music.

I discovered the Erhu since one month, and like I live in a musician family (mother who likes to sing; father who is a very good guitarist) and me... who like to sing too, practise a little the piano and the guitar.

I bought an Erhu on ebay, this is the link:

cgi.ebay.fr/Chinese-musical-instrument-rosewood-ERHU_W0QQitemZ140354718346QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20adcb0a8a

I couldn't put a lot of money in an instrument, as I am a student.

So I would like that you give me piece of advice concerning my future instrument's quality,

Moreover, I studied a lot of things in connexion with how to bow and to place the fingers, and how to read the tabs (tablatures? parts, I don't know how to say)

If I understood well, numbers correspond to the notes (Do=1, Ré=2, Mi=3, Fa=4, Sol=5 ...etc)

(sorry I don't really know the english notes D, G, F, A, B... If someone can explain me...)

I found how to explain the differents symbols placed above the numbers thanks to a website mentionned in this website. And also thanks to a eason's video clip.

I would be grateful if someone could explain me what are the differents "points" write some times to the right, or under, or on the numbers in the parts/tabs?

Moreover, I saw also, under the numbers, that there are differents lines who follow the notes.
Some times there is one milked/line, other times two milked.

Is that correspond to the amount of strings which is in contact with the bow?

Is that would like to say
that some times, with the bow we only play on the first or the second string?
I never played violin, but... I am motivated to learn!

It's very difficult, because in France, this instrument is very rare... That is so sad!

I hope that someone will like take time to help me, and to answer to my questions.
Sorry for the amount of questions and my english mistakes.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully.

Shirley

[sanmenxia]

Hi,

That erhu looks to me like a good quality instrument, but of course you can't really tell what an erhu sounds like from photographs.

If I understood well, numbers correspond to the notes (Do=1, Ré=2, Mi=3, Fa=4, Sol=5 ...etc)

(sorry I don't really know the english notes D, G, F, A, B... If someone can explain me...)

The numbers always mean the relative position of notes in the diatonic major scale, that's why printed music usually say what the actual pitch of 1 (do) is.

More details:
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jianpu

[yueyashan]

Hello!

Thank you very much for your prompt answer!
I understood a lot of things thank to your link!
I was stupid to think that some times we play with only on string with the bow... x-D

I have another request,

I found these musics on you tube,
Someone could have the parts?

Here the links

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCkbfapn-I4&hl=fr

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnvzVJ1dibw

and the last:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ2nv2V7Ehw&feature=related

many thanks!

best wishes

Shirley

[paulv]

sent you a PM.

Regards,
paul...

[rat8bug]

Here is a link to musical scores and performances that can help english readers and speakers.

www.eason.com.sg/resources/erhuscores.jsp

....Barry