erhu help

[chance21]

Hi:I recentley bought a student erhu,and one thing that has me stumped is this.I've noticed that in every picture and video where I've seen an erhu is that the strings look like there tied back close to the tunning pegs.Is this a must because my erhu does not have this.Any help on this would be awesome.Thanks:Chance21

[maaltan]

Yes its required. its called the qianjin. It provides a hardpoint for that end of the strings. Its like that top bar on a guitar that the strings wrap over after the tuning peg area (sorry i barely know erhu anatomy )

Here is a link i'm reusing from another post (i hope its ok)

www.senmaike.net/erhu/20040704/pic20040704_e.html

There was a good thread describing various aspects of it, but i've lost it. ill try to find it later. searching for qianjin (change it to search for posts older than 7 days. 356 should be enough). should give you alot of info.

[Charlie Huang]

The qianjin is the 'nut'. That basically connects the end of the string to the instrument, thereby defining the tuning and pitch. The other is the bridge which forms another connection, usually to the place that resonates the sound, like a soundbox.

[chance21]

Thank you,I will look in to it.Thanks again for the help.

[sanmenxia]

www.omnisterra.com/scgi-bin/view.pl/Main/ChineseViolin

Shows how the erhu should look.