Erhu (two-string fiddle)
1 min readChinese folk music is extremely diverse. Countless instrumental styles, such as the Silk and Bamboo music of southern China, may be heard in every corner of the country.
Chinese folk instruments are used for both solo and ensemble playing. The matouqin (horsehead fiddle) is a bowed string folk instrument of the Mongolian ethnic group, popular primarily in Inner Mongolia. The matouqin is approximately 124 centimeters long from top to bottom, with a wooden neck and trapezoidal soundbox. The soundbox is covered with either horsehide or wooden panels, which are decorated with painted designs. Two tuning pegs are positioned on either side of the top of the neck, strung with two horsehair strings tuned a fourth or a fifth apart. The bow is made from cane strung with horsehair. Several new types of matouqin were developed during the 1960s. The matouqin has a unique tone suitable for many types of music and is often used for playing extended solos, contributing to its widespread appeal.
