Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. In performance the erhu is held upright on the performer’s thigh, and the tautness of the bow strings is determined by the pressure of the performer’s hand. Bowing is done horizontally, with right-hand fingering techniques for altering the bow tension and for crossing strings.

How does the erhu produce sound?

The Erhu consists of a long vertical stick-like neck, at the top of which are two big tuning pegs, and at the bottom is a small resonator body (sound box) which is covered with python skin on the front (playing) end. … Its characteristic sound is produced through the vibration of the python skin by bowing. 2.

Is erhu similar to violin?

Erhu is a traditional chinese instrument the violin is western. Compared to the Erhu, the violin has more strings to it therefore making a sharper tone and Erhu is more slim in comparison. Also, an Erhu needs to be played sitting down, settling its bottom on the players thighs while a violin can be played standing up.