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# Chinese Instruments ## Plucky Pipa The pipa is a four-stringed pear-shaped instrument similar to a lute. It's one of the world's oldest instruments, dating back more than 2,000 years. Its sound is described as: - "The thicker strings rattled like splatters of sudden rain, the thinner ones hum...

# Chinese Instruments ## Plucky Pipa The pipa is a four-stringed pear-shaped instrument similar to a lute. It's one of the world's oldest instruments, dating back more than 2,000 years. Its sound is described as: - "The thicker strings rattled like splatters of sudden rain, the thinner ones hummed like a hushed whisper." - Bai Juyi, Tang Dynasty poet To play the pipa, a player uses their fingers nimbly, alternating between plucking the strings forward and backward. The instrument is held pointing upward, with the left hand moving up and down the frets while pushing , twisting, and pulling the strings. The right hand's five fingers pluck the strings. ### Top Pipa Player Liu Fang is a famous pipa player who travels the world performing solo concerts. She started performing at a young age and quickly became a prodigy, playing public concerts by the age of nine. She also played for Queen Elizabeth II at 11. Fang plays Western classical music alongside traditional Chinese music, incorporating both into her performances on the pipa. ### Fake Nails Up until the 20th century, pipa players used their fingernails to pluck strings made of silk. However, modern pipa strings are made of steel, with nylon wound around them, making them too tough for fingernails. Musicians now use plastic false nails, held in place with elastic tape, to play the pipa. ### Pipa Characteristics * A pipa typically has four strings. * The pipa's short, bent neck has up to 30 frets extending onto the soundboard, offering a wide range of 3½ octaves. ### Additional Notes * A photo of a woman playing a pipa in traditional costume is included. * The image includes a detail of a pipa's fretboard. * A pipa sheet music example is seen, written in Chinese characters.