When Pop Music Meets Chinese Traditional Instrument--Part One

During the 1.5 years of working freelance for tons of Chinese music projects in the Netherlands, I accumulate increased interest in Chinese traditional music. It can be traced back 7,000 - 8,000 years based on the discovery of a bone flute made in the Neolithic Age. Approximately 3000 years ago, European music was experiencing its first rustlings of life whereas a complete musical theory and sophisticated musical instruments began to appear in China, owing largely to the orthodox ritual music advocated by Confucius.

In China, music instruments are classified according to the material, not according to the generated sound or the construction method like in the West. Traditionally, there exist eight different types of instruments: They are: silk, bamboo, wood, stone, metal, clay gourd and hide. There are also other instruments which may not fit these classifications. During Han Dynasty, the theory of the Five Elements (wuxing 五行) and correlation of beings and appearances was very popular. The correlation also includes music instruments. Bamboo flutes are used when the spring begine, summer is the time of string instruments (silk), bronze bells are the instruments of the autumn, and in wintertime, drums are sounding.

Melody and tone are prominent expressive features of Chinese music, and great emphasis is given to the proper articulation and inflection of each musical tone. Today, the music continues a rich traditional heritage in one aspect, while emerging into a more contemporary form at the same time. I'll focus on the pop music here and show how amazing the mixture is when the pop music meets Chinese traditional instruments.

Pipa--The pipa (琵琶) is a plucked Chinese string instrument. Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body. It has been played for nearly two thousand years in China, and belongs to the plucked category of instruments. Pipa was loved by everyone--from the royal court to the common folk--and it occupied the predominant place in the orchestra.

The song used Pipa as its backgroud accompaniment,the sound of the instrument is extremely beautiful.


Erhu--The erhu (二胡),sometimes known in the West as the "Chinese violin" or "Chinese two-string fiddle," is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras.

In this music video, together with pipa, erhu expresses the exquisite feeling of the song and creates the sad atmosphere which perfectly match the lyrics.


Dizi--Also called Chinese flute, was made from bone over 7,000 years ago. In the times since then, most flutes were made of bamboo.The dizi is a major Chinese musical instrument, and is widely used in many genres of Chinese folk music, as well as Chinese opera, and the modern Chinese orchestra. Traditionally, the dizi has also been popular among the Chinese common people, and it is simple to make and easy to carry.


Yangqin--Yangqin(扬琴） is a Chinese hammered dulcimer with a near-squared soundboard. The instrument is very similar to Santur, played with two bamboo sticks. The original was confined to the southeastern coastal province of Guangdong late in the Ming dynasty. It spread later throughout the inner areas.

The yangqin, bright and harmonious in tone, is often used for solos and in ensembles or in the accompaniment of local operas, narratives and other vocal singings.The vivid sound of Yangqin is played through the whole song.And you can also capture the sound of Guzheng, which I am going to introduce next.