Anyone knows what this is?
- Thread starter Lalz
- Start date
metricfuture
Well-known member
The shape and tuning pegs remind me of a Ruan, but they have 4 strings (as far as I know) and a shorter neck. But I'd wager it's probably Chinese.
ukeeku
Well-known member
the frets look like a dulcimer. when in tune you hold a string down anywhere and it sounds good.
No idea what it is
No idea what it is
PoiDog
Well-known member
I can't recall the name, but it is an East Asian instrument - I think Chinese (like Lalou said). I remember seeing them in a couple of homes when I lived in Honolulu, though I never heard them played.
josh.kattelman
Active member
josh.kattelman
Active member
My pleasure! 
UkuleleThreads
Well-known member
Does it have 2 or 3 strings? It looks like 2, which makes me think Er Hu, though it does look much like a Qinqin, though they, to the best of my knowledge, always have 3 strings. Interesting...
Except that an Er Hu is a bowed instrument, with the hairs of the bow in between the strings. it is also played vertically, not horizontally, and the skin - usually python skin - is a much smaller area. i think mine (for decoration only!) has about a 3-1/2 or 4" diameter "hoop" (since I can't recall the correct term), which is also longer than it is wide. (Which reminds me of Melanie Safka's song "Psychotherapy", but that's a much different discussion....)
-Kurt
