Okay, I finally got it... now how to start?

[jdclay]

Alright, about one hour ago, I received my Hangzhou-Singapore Aged Redwood Erhu from Cadenza, with nice Vietnamese Python skin.

I had a heck of a time trying to string the thing together, and tuning it, but I got it within ~10 cents of A4 and D4.

Now... how do I start learning finger positions? Can anyone tell me in English, to someone who has never played a real stringed instrument with no real prior knowledge of notation or note reading/tone perception?

HELP!!

Thanks in advance,
Justin.

[jdclay]

Well, I've guessed on a lot of stuff, basically using AP Tuner to find the notes on the strings and trying to memorize those positions.

Problem is, it doesn't really sound good. It sounds extremely scratch and wolf-tone-y. Am I missing something here? The bow is rosined, hopefully not too much... but its still scratchy, but not like I'm pressing too hard.

Help?

[karl]

This is a tough one.

When you play open string (with no fingers pressed down) does it sound bad also? What about varying your bowing. pulling/pushing harder, lighter or faster, slower? Does that make things better?

When you bow, try using the entire bow rather than short pulls/pushes.

-karl

[jdclay]

Open strings (1, 5) sound great. Dead-on erhu... I'll try mixing it up to see if I get a better sound. Its only really coming from B4 and E4 (6, 2)

[maaltan]

there are fingering charts in the top stickied post in this forurm.

as for sound, make sure you have everything in the right place and make sure you have good sized chunk of cloth under the bridge. It is not optional.

Please define Scratchy a little better. is it more squeaky or more grinding. squeaky or uneven tones need more pressure for the speed you are bowing. grinding.. is actually hard to produce (at least for me) i have to really lay on the bow pressure to get that sound.

Here are a couple of observations i have made.

The faster the bowing the more pressure required (and volume is louder)

the lower on the string you play(higher notes), the more pressure and speed is needed to get same volume and tone quality.

The louder the sound the clearer the tone. (or quieter notes are harder to control)

also try altering the size position and shape of the cloth under the bridge.

[calden]

Another option to try:

If you have piece of felt under the strings at the bridge, try a little piece of foam rubber. It should be beefy enough that you have to really squeeze it to get it in there. Or conversely if you have piece of foam try a piece of felt. Make sure it's pushed up against the bridge snugly.

I've found that, for me, the best anti-scratch technique has been a solid and clearly defined initial start to the bow stroke. Before the bow gets pushed (or pulled) it really needs to have enough pressure on the string to have real solid contact. This doesn't necessarily mean push HARD against the string, but the bow cannot have any skatiness when the bowstroke starts.

Have you ever used a wet finger to make a wineglass sing by running your finger around the edge of the glass? If so, then you know that it takes a certain little push of pressure on your finger to get it going just right - then once it's moving the pressure is lighter. This is somewhat the same feel. It's not simply that: more pressure=better sound, but rather a good, solid contact at the very initial push (pull) starts the bow moving just right.

Think: SKATE=SCRATCH

Carlos

[YouLanFengChune]

well, one scratch ois cos of the tension of bowing. U need to be able to control the bow. Our Erhu attestor here is a fan of very loose bows. She may have made your bow quite loose. Tighten it.

use more strength. and when you pres down, trey to use more finger-power. The qianjin may also be outta place. Mpove it around. You'll see..

[jdclay]

I'm guessing its just my inexperience with this instrument that keeps catching my off-guard. I suppose if I ever find time soon to drive downtown (to Atlanta? Are you nuts?!?!) to the Chinese Cultural Center for a lesson (or ten), my skill in the instrument will rise exponentially!

Right now, however, I have a nice piece of red felt underneath the bridge, which is centered exactly on the erhu. I have the first key of D pretty much down pat... and only B and E are giving me issues... its so odd. It seems the not that its squeaking or grinding individually, its almost like its jumping around into other notes... like it starts great at B in the beginning, but at the end of the bowing, the note almost seems to be inconsistent. Do you think I need to try pressing down on the strings and the bow a little harder to keep a more consistent pressure?

[YouLanFengChune]

i just got to know i erhu teacher in new york. Could he help?

[calden]

Yes, brave the traffic and go downtown.

A teacher of just about any qualification could show you what the problems are in a tenth of the time it takes us to try and help you. Sitting with a teacher and playing would demonstrate the issues, and he or she could then say "do this, don't do that" and you'd say "oh! That's all it is - I see - I do THIS instead" and all would sound right.

It's not necessarily hard, but it's hard to put into words in this forum. You'll save yourself a month of time at least by having a single lesson.

Carlos