ERH-HU

Pinyin Erhu, also called Nan-hu, Chinese vertical fiddle, consisting of two strings, commonly tuned a fifth apart, which are stretched over a wooden drum resonator. A vertical post with no fingerboard goes through the resonator, and the bow is moved between the strings. Bowing is done horizontally, with right-hand fingering techniques for altering the bow tension and for crossing strings, while the instrument is held in an upright position on the thigh. In addition to its orchestral role, it is also a solo instrument. Its performance is characterized by subtle contrasts in bowing strength, powerful vibrato, and glissandos. A higher-pitched version with a smaller resonator surface is the kao-hu. In southern China, the kao-hu is often the first bowed-string instrument in orchestras, with the erh-hu being the second. Several bass-range versions are also popular.