Name: Liu-qin (in Mandarin).

Type: Chordophone, plucked lute.

Region: China, and southern China, Shandong province ETC.

Tuning: G-D-G-D. 3-stringed version, a-d-a or d-a-d,

Source: Deborah Gibson (Mom); supplier (Randy Raine Reusch).

Acquisition Date: 2007.08.19 Sunday.

Description: The liu-xin is a chordophone or lute originating form China. The specimen I have is of an older method of making. Despite the instrument its self is not particularly that old in age. Much of the classical instruments in China date back quite some time. This instrument dates back circa 1950s, approx. 30 years ago. The method of playing of the liquin is the use of mostly single or "open" notes, chords are seldom used. The Liu-qin is played in folk Chinese Opera and naritive music's such as Suzhou-pingtan (pingtan being a regional form of nartitive music).

Tunings for liu-qin: The standard tuning is G-D-G-D rarely alternate tunings are used though at the same time other tunings have been used for various developments of the liu-qin. There was a version of the liuqin developed circa 1970's a luthier named "Wang" made a liuqin having five strings tuned to A-D-A-D-A. This is rare most pipa played today mainly have four. Three stringed liu-qin are almost no longer used. The volume of the liquin was original "small" in resonance recent experiments involved the addition of "resonating soundboards" inside the sound-box of the instrument.

Materials: bone, wood (not sure of speciments), The Liu-qin was originally made from willow, but professional quality instruments are made from sandlewood and rosewood. As for the frets they are often bamboo, sometimes for the inferior quality instruments may have plastic-frets. Where as the superior quality instruments may have bamboo and added brass or bone frets. Mine has bamboo, but very good quality, great sound and timbre when played. The frets on the instrument unlike western instruments guitar and or mandolins for example are raised.

This is a common feature amongst many instruments in (all of asia).screws (to hold strings); bridge of wood and bone. wooden tuning pegs with bone ornamentation. Strings are of steel and the liu-xin is played with a pick. Sounds some what like a bright mandolin with out the base timbre of the mandolin. My specimen of this instrument has a total of 24 frets, all are of bamboo and are "raised". The back of the liuqin appears to be a single piece of wood.

Citations: Chineseinstruments.org http://www.chineseinstruments.org/ - Wikipedia article of Chinese traditional instruments.