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Post by puerhu on Jun 4, 2017 18:35:15 GMT
Hi everyone. I recently bought an erhu just because I like the sound, though I have no musical experience or ability . I am surprised by the lack of online resourses for erhu learners, at least in English, so I'm glad I found this forum. I'll try to read through the old posts before asking too many questions, but first I'd like to ask what you do with your instrument when you're not playing. My erhu was very cheap but I still don't want to damage it. Should I loosen the strings and remove the bridge? Do you leave your bow attached? Is it OK that I don't have a case? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
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Post by dawei on Jun 4, 2017 19:16:19 GMT
Welcome, from one new forum member to another.
Although I am by no means an expert on Erhu, what I do is this:
1. "What do you do with your instrument when you're not playing"
put it in the case or hang in on my wall safely for pretty much immediate future use.
2. " Should I loosen the strings and remove the bridge? "
not unless you are storing it for an extended period. If you are using old-style silk strings you may want to loosen them some if you are in a place where the climate changes a lot. Modern metal strings are mostly OK.
3. Do you leave your bow attached?
Yes. One of the first pamphlets I found in SF on Erhu ( circa 1980) showed the "bow-hang-position" The bow can be gently rotated to be parallel to the neck for non-playing times. On most Erhus, certainly not on all Huqin family instruments, the bow can even hook on the tuning pegs.
4. Is it OK that I don't have a case?
Maybe.
If you play gigs, travel to a teacher's' house, live in a widely varying climate, have active pets or kids, well, then yes!
If you only play at home and it's a climate-controlled situation, then you can get away with not having a case.
I'm curious what the experts have to say!
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Post by eugene on Jun 5, 2017 9:26:30 GMT
Welcome puerhu, Below is a link about maintenance and Erhu Storage from Eason. www.eason.com.sg/documents/maintenance_eng.pdfFor me I dont loosen the strings and remove the bridge but i do place a wood in between string and snake skin Which look like this. This will help to reduce the pressure to the skin and prolong it as well I also place a cloth in between the bow and string when i attached my bow to the neck. This will help to prevent the rosin from the bow to the string.
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Post by fatpanda on Jun 5, 2017 10:23:17 GMT
I remember my first erhu teacher told me to put a wooden pencil (short) at exactly where they place the protectors as soon on the picture above if not going to play erhu for a while.
Black and Violet Sandalwood protectors? That shows how obsessed we erhu buyers are about these sandalwood. The protectors don't need to be such good quality wood.
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Post by puerhu on Jun 5, 2017 21:09:16 GMT
Thanks all for the suggestions. I can, carefully, rotate the bow and place it over the tuning pegs, which is definitely more convenient. And I will be using the protector/pencil tip (actually a pen because a pencil seemed too thin), the photo was especially helpful.
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Post by eugene on Jun 8, 2017 2:29:47 GMT
I find this wood its much easily to use rather than getting a pencil. Plus this is not that expensive as well. Its cost $3.
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Post by bookyeti on Feb 16, 2021 18:58:26 GMT
I'd like to get one of those Erhu Skin Protectors from Harmony Music, but I can't seem to find them on their website. I sent them a message on Facebook to see if they still carry them. EDITED TO ADD: Neverind...I found one on another site.
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