A Comparison of Two Instruments

A Comparison of Two Instruments

                                                                        by Doris 9721301

     There are two plucking instruments in Chinese music. Although they have similar outside, but there are huge difference between them. The left instrument called "pipa", it is a long history instrument. Pipa's shape looks like a pear. Likewise, the right instrument "liuqin" has the same shape but dimidiate of pipa. They have equal head and axle on the top, and both use four strings. Pipa's skills of left hand are similar to liuqin's, such as push, press, pull, slip the string. However, pipa differs greatly from liuqin in other side.

     One difference is tuning. Pipa's string pitch are la, re, mi, la (A,d,e,a), and liuqin's are sol,re,sol,re (g,d1,g2,d2), this shows the range of pipa's voice is much lower and wider than liuqin, because of the bigger body and longer string.  

     The second area of difference is the playing way. Pipa plays by using five fingers of right hand, players plaster fake nails on gummed tape then wind it around their fingers. On the other hand, because liuqin is much smaller than pipa, the space between liuqin's strings are narrow, and the strings are much shorter and tougher, so liuqin plays by using a pick. In contrast, pipa's skills of right hand are much more abundant and complicated than liuqin.

     Finally, there are many differences in musical composition's style. For example, pipa music's style is close to ancient melody, it is slow and having an aroma, the variation is plentiful. Moreover, pipa can also plays some pieces with powerful and fight strength, such as the famous one "Ambush on All Sides (十面埋伏)". Therefore, pipa has an extensively expression. Liuqin's music style is close to world music. Because it was reformed in 1960s, from two strings to four strings, and from accompaniment of traditional opera to a solo instrument, it's history is much shorter than pipa's. After the reform, liuqin's gamut is similar to violin, so it often play violin's composition. As for liuqin itself's composition are affected by the harmony conception of Western music, it is not convention as pipa. Moreover, liuqin's composition usually appear happy feelings.

     To sum up, there are similarties between pipa and liuqin are about the outward appearance and skills of left hand; and differences betweem them are about tuning, the playing way, and music's style. We can appreciate them both in different point of view. All in all, pipa and liuqin are both superior Chinese plucking instruments.