The erhu has only two strings and a relatively simple appearance. However, once beginners pick up the bow, many quickly discover that producing a clean, stable, and pleasant sound is not as easy as it looks.
Some beginners experience scratching or squeaking sounds. Others can find the notes but struggle with accurate intonation. Some may also feel tension in their wrists, shoulders, or arms after practising for only a short time.
These challenges do not mean that you lack musical talent.
The erhu is an instrument that requires careful coordination between body movement, bow control, finger placement, and listening skills. It is completely normal for beginners to experience unstable tone, inaccurate pitch, or awkward bowing during the early stages of learning.
Instead of rushing to play a complete song, it is more important to first develop proper posture, bowing technique, finger placement, and practice habits. A strong foundation will make learning new pieces much easier in the future.
If you are planning to learn the erhu, here are five important things that every beginner should know
1. Your First Erhu Does Not Need to Be Expensive, but It Must Be Suitable
When buying an erhu, many beginners immediately focus on the price. Some worry that an inexpensive instrument will not be good enough, while others simply choose the cheapest option because they are unsure whether they will continue learning.
In reality, a beginner’s first erhu does not need to be a professional-level instrument. However, choosing an instrument based only on price can also create unnecessary difficulties.
A good beginner erhu should have a stable structure, reliable tuning pegs, and a sound that is reasonably easy to control. If the tuning pegs constantly slip and the strings go out of tune, beginners may struggle to determine whether the problem comes from their finger placement or the instrument itself.
Other components, including the bridge, strings, qianjin, and bow hair, can also affect sound production. If any of these parts are poorly adjusted, beginners may feel that the erhu is extremely difficult to play.
Before purchasing an erhu, listen carefully to both the inner and outer strings. Check whether the volume and tone of the two strings are reasonably balanced and whether there are any unusual noises while bowing. The neck should be straight, and the resonator and python skin should not show obvious damage.
If you are unfamiliar with the structure of the erhu, it is advisable to ask an experienced teacher or player for assistance.
For beginners, an instrument that stays in tune and produces a stable sound is far more important than expensive wood, decorative features, or professional-level specifications.
As your playing ability and musical ear develop, you can later upgrade to an instrument that better suits your preferred tone and playing style.
2. Proper Posture Helps Produce a More Stable Sound
When learning the erhu, teachers often spend a significant amount of time correcting posture and hand position. These exercises may not feel as exciting as learning a song, but they directly affect bowing, intonation, comfort, and long-term playing ability.
When practising, sit towards the front half of the chair with both feet resting naturally on the floor. Keep your upper body upright but relaxed. Avoid forcing yourself into a stiff position.
The erhu resonator should usually rest near the upper part of the left thigh, while the neck of the instrument is positioned slightly forward. Avoid moving your entire body from side to side while bowing. You should also avoid constantly lowering your head to watch your fingers.
When holding the erhu with your left hand, the space between the thumb and index finger should gently support the neck rather than gripping it tightly. Keep the wrist relaxed and natural, allowing the fingers to curve comfortably over the strings. If the wrist bends excessively inward, finger movement can become restricted. Similarly, using too much pressure with the thumb can make shifting positions and finger movement more difficult. The right hand should also remain relaxed while holding the bow.
Many beginners worry that the bow may slip, so they grip it too tightly. This often causes the shoulder to rise, the wrist to become stiff, and the sound to become rough. The goal is not to tightly hold the bow. Instead, your fingers should remain flexible enough to adjust naturally during both up-bows and down-bows.
When practising, try using a mirror to observe your posture. Check whether your shoulders are balanced, whether your wrists are excessively bent, and whether the erhu remains stable while you play. Correcting small posture problems early can prevent them from becoming difficult habits later.
3. Master Open Strings Before Learning Songs
When beginners first start learning the erhu, many are eager to immediately play a familiar song.
Motivation is important, but learning a complete piece too early can sometimes cause incorrect techniques to become repeated habits.
The sound of the erhu is produced mainly through the movement of the bow across the strings. If bow speed, pressure, direction, or contact point is unstable, the sound may become scratchy, harsh, uneven, or interrupted. For this reason, erhu lessons usually begin with open-string exercises.
Open-string practice allows beginners to focus entirely on the right hand without needing to worry about finger placement at the same time. When practising long bows, try using the full length of the bow to produce a continuous and steady sound. The bow should travel in a consistent direction without suddenly moving upward or downward. Try to maintain a stable speed throughout the bow stroke. Sudden acceleration or changes in pressure can affect the quality of the sound.
As you approach the frog or tip of the bow, the wrist and fingers need to adjust naturally to maintain a smooth and connected tone. If you hear excessive scratching sounds, do not immediately apply more pressure.
Instead, check the following:
- Are your shoulders tense?
- Is the bow hair pressing too heavily against the strings?
- Is the bow moving in the correct direction?
- Are your wrist and fingers too stiff?
Sometimes the problem is not a lack of strength but excessive tension.
Practising open strings for just a few minutes every day can produce significant long-term improvement. Once your bowing becomes more stable, your tone will become fuller, string changes will feel more natural, and adding left-hand techniques will become much easier.
4. The Erhu Has No Frets, So Intonation Requires Both Your Fingers and Your Ears
Unlike the guitar, the erhu does not have frets or fixed finger positions.
A small movement of the finger can change the pitch significantly. This is one of the main reasons why beginners find erhu intonation challenging.
When learning basic finger positions, do not simply memorise where your fingers should go. You must also listen carefully to whether each note is in tune.
Beginners should first establish proper hand positions under the guidance of a teacher. Scale exercises can then help develop a sense of distance between different fingers. Practise slowly enough to clearly hear every note.
A tuner can be useful for checking pitch, but it should only be used as a supporting tool. If you constantly watch the screen while playing, you may become dependent on visual feedback instead of developing your listening skills.
A better approach is to first play the note and listen carefully. Try to determine whether the pitch is too high or too low before checking the tuner. Over time, your ears will gradually become more familiar with correct pitch.
Singing is also an effective way to improve intonation. Before playing a short melody, try singing the notes first. Understanding the direction and shape of the melody can make it easier to find the correct finger positions on the erhu.
Occasionally playing an incorrect note is completely normal. The important thing is to avoid repeatedly practising incorrect pitch without noticing it.
When you hear an inaccurate note, stop and determine whether it is too high or too low. Adjust your finger gradually instead of quickly sliding around the string in search of the correct note. Good intonation develops through a combination of correct finger placement, careful listening, and consistent practice.
5. Practising a Little Every Day Is Better Than Practising for Hours Once a Week
Learning the erhu requires your body to gradually become familiar with new movements while your ears develop sensitivity to pitch and tone. These skills cannot usually be developed in one long practice session.
For beginners, practice frequency is often more important than practising for many hours at once. If you are new to the erhu, practising for around 20 to 30 minutes a day is usually enough.
A simple beginner practice routine may include:
- Tune the erhu.
- Check your posture, instrument position, and bow hold.
- Practise open strings and long bows.
- Work on scales and basic finger exercises.
- Practise simple melodies or songs.
Following a consistent routine allows your hands and body to gradually prepare for more difficult exercises. If you repeatedly struggle with a particular section of music, you do not need to restart the entire song every time. Instead, isolate the difficult two or three bars and practise them slowly.
Focus first on correct notes, then rhythm, and finally dynamics and musical expression. Breaking a difficult problem into smaller sections is usually much more effective than repeatedly playing the entire piece. Recording your practice sessions can also be extremely useful.
While playing, you may be concentrating on your fingers and bow movement and may not immediately notice problems with rhythm, tone, or intonation.
Listening to a recording afterwards allows you to evaluate your playing more objectively.
If you experience pain in your wrist, shoulder, back, or other areas while practising, stop and check your posture. Normal practice may cause mild fatigue, but it should not cause persistent pain.
Learning a musical instrument is a long-term process. Staying relaxed and practising consistently is more beneficial than forcing yourself to practise for extended periods.
Do Beginners Need an Erhu Teacher?
Today, there are many online erhu tutorials available. These videos cover topics such as tuning, posture, bowing technique, finger exercises, and song demonstrations. They can be useful learning resources, especially for beginners. However, a video can demonstrate a technique, but it cannot always tell you whether you are performing the movement correctly. For example, scratching sounds may be caused by several different problems:
- Holding the bow too tightly
- Uneven bow speed
- An unstable contact point
- Excessive bow pressure
- Incorrect instrument setup
Without someone observing your playing, you may spend a long time experimenting without identifying the real problem.
Working with an experienced erhu teacher during the early stages can help identify posture and technical problems before they become long-term habits. A teacher can also adjust lessons according to your age, hand size, learning speed, musical experience, and personal goals.
Even if you cannot attend lessons every week, occasional guidance from a qualified teacher combined with regular personal practice and online learning resources can be much more effective than trying to learn entirely on your own.
Can You Learn the Erhu Without Any Musical Background?
Yes.
You do not need previous musical experience to start learning the erhu.
Most beginner erhu lessons start with the fundamentals, including sitting posture, holding the instrument, bowing, rhythm, and basic finger placement. Numbered musical notation and basic music theory can also be introduced gradually during the learning process.
Adults can learn the erhu too. In fact, adult learners often have a clear understanding of why they want to learn and are able to better understand explanations about movement, technique, and sound. Age is usually less important than consistency.
The biggest factors that influence progress are regular practice, patience, and a willingness to develop strong fundamentals. There is also no fixed answer to how long it takes before you can play a complete song.
Some students may be able to play simple melodies within a few weeks, while others may need more time to become comfortable with bowing and intonation. Instead of focusing only on how quickly you can finish a song, pay attention to the quality of your playing.
Ask yourself:
- Is my sound becoming more stable?
- Are my notes becoming more accurate?
- Is my rhythm clear?
- Can I play while keeping my body relaxed?
These are often better indicators of real progress.
Related article: Choosing the Right Erhu Lesson: What You Need to Know
Conclusion
The most important part of learning the erhu is not how many songs you can play during the first few months. It is about building the right foundation.
A stable and suitable instrument, relaxed posture, proper open-string practice, regular intonation training, and consistent practice habits will all influence your long-term progress.
Do not be discouraged if your erhu does not sound beautiful immediately. Every erhu player begins with sounds that may feel difficult to control. The key is to listen carefully, recognise your weaknesses, and improve one small detail at a time. Gradually, your movements will become more natural, your tone will become more stable, and the erhu will begin to reveal its unique expressive character.
That is one of the most rewarding parts of learning this beautiful Chinese musical instrument — transforming two simple strings into music that can express emotion, tell a story, and connect people through sound.
Looking for professional erhu lessons in Malaysia?
At Yi Xiang Ler Chinese Musical Centre, our experienced teachers provide structured erhu lessons for children, teenagers, and adults, from complete beginners to advanced learners.
