Strings for C/G tuning

[billabong]

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that there are strings designed for tuning to C/G for a normal erhu (and not erquan hu), particularly for a "Great Wall .." song.

Any help on where these can be found? Anyone has experience with them, especially compared to just loosening the usual D/A strings?

Thank you.

[thebamboogrove]

There is the Great Wall Strings, designed for it.

[Minh]

I did not even know there were different strings for that, so unfortunately I have no experience with them, I just know that I am almost tempted to buy and try them. Only almost.

I tune my erhu to the lower C and G when I need it. I find it easier on the fingers, the strings are less tensed making the vibrato easier to roll or press, the sound itself it warmer, but I lose a lot of the sound. Also when I go back to D A, I find that it's weird and funny because I was used to the strings being loose.

[davidmdahl]

Early in my erhu studies, I was playing some tunes out of a book where the erhu was to be tuned to C/G. I enjoyed the sound and experience very much. However, any lower and I find the strings too loose.

Best wishes,

David

[billabong]

Thanks for the replies. I just saw in some chinese website that greatwall strings are tuned to CG particularly for Great Wall Caprice.
Here is one brand after some searching

www.amazon.cn/%E6%98%9F%E6%B5%B7-%E9%95%BF%E5%9F%8E%E4%BA%8C%E8%83%A1%E5%A5%97%E5%BC%A6/dp/B005LYW6VG

[CrimsonErhuist]

I dunno about anybody else here but since I got Red Dragon strings I haven't been able to tune them any higher than C G.

[davidmdahl]

Crimsonerhuist, the Red Dragon strings are popular with a lot of players, who successfully tune to D/A. Maybe you have a set for the "Great Wall" tuning. If you would care to post a scan of the covers, our Chinese readers will be able to identify if you have the D/A or the C/G set.

If your qianjin is set very high, it may be hard to tune to D/A safely without risk of string breakage, especially if your strings are on the thick side.

Best wishes,

David

[CrimsonErhuist]

I'll try and take pictures tomorrow when I'm practising. Most of the songs I've got to do for college are usually C/G or A/E anyway so it's not affecting the songs I'm playing except it feels like even C/G is too tight sometimes.
The real problem is going to come later when I attempt to resume my weekly tutoring lessons and I constantly slip out of pitch.

[song]

Yes the red dragon strings should easily tune to D/A.

Anyway just heard that erhu maestro Min Hui Fen had brain hemorrhage yesterday and was rushed to the hospital for an emergency operation. Currently her condition has stabilized. Hope she gets well soon....

[CrimsonErhuist]

Here we go. Took these on Wednesday in College:


Front and back of the Pirastro Red Dragon set.


From what I've seen of other erhu my Qianjin doesn't look any higher but I'm no expert.


The pegs have slipped in the case a few times when tuned higher so the strings aren't exactly neat but anyway, the instrument at the time of these pictures was tuned to A E.


Here's a closeup of the bridge, strings and bow in case that's important. The rectangular silver thing's a piezo pickup.

[davidmdahl]

Those are the standard Red Dragon D/A strings, and should certainly be able to be tuned to D (inside string) and A (outside string). What sort of trouble are you having when you try to tune to D/A? If the trouble is merely that the pegs keeps slipping, then the strings are not the problem. Usually, it is a matter of pushing the pegs into the holes with more determination. Do the pegs fit into the holes snugly? Maybe the holes were not carely made to fit the pegs properly, but I think this would be uncommon.

What kind of skin is that, synthetic?

Best wishes,

David

[CrimsonErhuist]

The main problem with the strings is that they won't go much tighter than C G. It feels like if I wind them any harder they'll snap or will damage the pegs.
The pegs fit fine. I used to have problems with tuning when I first got it but since I started using peg paste it's a lot easier (As long as it's to lower than C G) and before I changed to these strings, it could stay in tune for weeks in its case.

I had a similar problem with my sister's partner's electric violin. The pegs would hold if the strings weren't so tight. Thing was, though that it was his violin that sucked and no amount of good strings was gonna fix that.
However using other strings has never caused me the same problem as the Red Dragons. This is my fourth set I've tried including the originals and spares that came with the instrument.

Also, yeah. That's the Beijing rosewood synthetic snakeskin erhu.

[davidmdahl]

Check the strings from peg to base to make sure that they don't cross each other at the qianjin. This is really easy to do by mistake when restringing. That will result in a strange sound, and tuning challenges. The long thick D string should be on the inside position all the way to the end.

Best wishes,

David

[CrimsonErhuist]

I always make sure that doesn't happen when I change strings or put them back on. Thanks for the suggestions but I still don't really know what I'm doing wrong or if I'm even doing anything wrong. If this keeps happening I might have to switch back to my old strings and I don't want to have to do that when I paid for better.

[thebamboogrove]

Can you measure the diameter of the resonator box?

[CrimsonErhuist]

Corner to opposite corner is 4 inches exactly.
This is still really confusing me. I checked to make sure I'd wound the strings correctly and I did. Removing the felt pad and changing the bridge made no difference, either.
I really think the problem is the strings because it's only been since I changed them in November that this has happened.

[jorserrano]

Jan 20, 2014 23:35:45 GMT billabong said:

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that there are strings designed for tuning to C/G for a normal erhu (and not erquan hu), particularly for a "Great Wall .." song.

Any help on where these can be found? Anyone has experience with them, especially compared to just loosening the usual D/A strings?

Thank you.

[jorserrano]

Hi I,m new ! How about lowering the qianjin one whole step down and keeping tension and finger spacemen unaltered ?

[davidmdahl]

Feb 8, 2018 10:47:05 GMT jorserrano said:

Hi I,m new ! How about lowering the qianjin one whole step down and keeping tension and finger spacemen unaltered ?

Finger spacing depends on the position of the qianjin. If you change that at all, the spacing will also change.

This thread is four years old. If you have a question or issue, I suggest creating a new thread.

Best wishes,

David

[jorserrano]

Hi I,m sorry I answer here but don’t know how to start a thread yet ! I mean: Open string would be C (same tension ) second fret would be D and then all fingering will have same finger spacing and string tension as ever, Is this so ?

[davidmdahl]

Feb 8, 2018 23:41:11 GMT jorserrano said:

Hi I,m sorry I answer here but don’t know how to start a thread yet ! I mean: Open string would be C (same tension ) second fret would be D and then all fingering will have same finger spacing and string tension as ever, Is this so ?

To create a new thread, go to the forum home page, find the section you want to create the new thread in (eg. "Erhu and other in the huqin family", and click on it. Then on the right side of the section heading, find "Create Thread" and click on it. Enter a subject in the box, and then type your post. When finished entering your post, click on the "Create Thread" button in the lower right corner.

Regarding your erhu question, if you have an erhu tuned as normal to D/A, and then tune it down to C/G by adjusting the pegs, the strings will be somewhat looser than when tuned to D/A. The spacing between the notes will still be the same since you did not move the qianjin. If you adjust the tuning by raising the qianjin a bit toward the pegs as well as adjusting the pegs, the strings will be looser, but maybe not quite so much, and the space between the notes will be a little more.

When the strings are too loose, the erhu is harder to play in tune and the tone quality is not so good. You can use thicker D/A strings if you often tune low. Raising the qianjin is also a useful trick, since it will lower the pitch by making the string longer, and the strings will not be so floppy.

Erquan strings allow you to tune very low for an erhu, down to G/D. I have never tried to tune erquan strings any higher than A/E though since they get pretty tight above that.

Best wishes,

David

[jorserrano]

Thanks a lot

[jorserrano]

I didn’t make myself clear, I meant RAISING the qianjin so without touching the pegs, it would be tuned open string in C and same tension.

[jorserrano]

I didn’t make myself clear, I meant RAISING the qianjin so without touching the pegs, it would be tuned open string in C and same tension.