The relationship between the material structure and timbre of Erhu
Tone quality and timbre are two different concepts. Sound quality refers to the quality of sound, such as the purity, clarity, degree of noise or noise, etc. Timbre refers to the attribute of sound, which is determined by the number of harmonics and the relative strength of the harmonics. Such as the sound is bright, sweet, mellow, honest, etc. The former is measurable, but the latter is difficult to test and can only be felt by people. The sound of the erhu has its own unique characteristics, which is mellow, soft, and beautiful. Its sound, which is similar to the human voice, is more singing and expressive.
Due to the structural characteristics of the erhu and the characteristics of the python skin, the variability of the erhu's timbre results. There are many factors that can change the timbre of the erhu. Below we discuss the impact of various factors on the changes in Erhu's timbre, as well as the application of Erhu's timbre changes.
1. Factors affecting the timbre of Erhu
1. The influence of weather and climate.
Changes in weather and climate have a direct impact on the timbre of the erhu. Changes in weather mainly refer to changes in cloudy, sunny, wind, rain, temperature, humidity and other meteorological elements. These changes will have an impact on the timbre of the erhu. For example, on a sunny day, when the temperature is high and dry, the sound of the Erhu will be crisp and dry; on a rainy day, when the humidity is high, the sound of the Erhu will be dull and low. Climate change refers to seasonal and regional changes. For example, spring and autumn are dry, and summer is wet and rainy. The north is dry, the south is wet, etc. Bamboo flutes and flutes produced in the south will crack when brought to the north. The same goes for the Erhu. Seasonal and regional climate conditions will also affect the changes in the Erhu's timbre. This is caused by two reasons. First, python skin is the main factor that forms the sound of the erhu. The fibrous tissue of python skin has toughness and elasticity. In hot and cold, dry and wet environments, thermal expansion and contraction will occur, causing the tightness of the python skin to change; Second, although the wood of the piano tube has been dried, if the moisture in the wood has not been completely dried, there will be slight expansion and contraction when the weather changes, which will affect the tightness of the piano skin and the sound of the piano tube. Influence.
2. The influence of piano skin processing.
The material selection, processing and production of python skin are the key processes of Erhu. Python skin is the source of the sound produced by the erhu. It is precisely because of the characteristics of the python skin that the erhu's tone has a unique charm. Therefore, the quality of the python skin, the thickness of the processing, the tightness of the skin, and the match with the wood of the piano tube are all important factors that affect the sound of the erhu. Strictly speaking, since the material selection and processing of python skin are all handmade, the timbre of each erhu will not be exactly the same, and there will always be differences. For example, even if the skin is taken from the same python, the timbre of the skin will be different in different parts of the spine, sides, and upper and lower parts. This difference forms the unique characteristics of each erhu's timbre.
3. The influence of the sound of the piano tube.
The piano skin is vibrated to produce a sound, but the volume is very small, and the loud sound must be produced by the sound of the piano tube. The Qintong plays the role of the singing tune, and the process of its singing is also the process of forming the erhu's tone. In addition to the material of the piano skin, the wood of the piano barrel also has a great influence on the sound of the erhu. Factors such as the density, dryness, response frequency, and vibration frequency of the wood, as well as differences in the structure and shape of the piano tube, will all affect the timbre of the erhu. For example, mahogany has a round and delicate sound; rosewood is hard and bright; ebony is strong and tough.
The author compares the two erhus on hand. One is a mahogany concertina with thin snake skin, a thin and bright sound, and poor penetration; the other is a rosewood octagon with a thicker python skin. Thick, the sound is thick and rough, with strong penetrating power. Use an oscilloscope to look at the waveform. At the same pitch point, the former has more and denser harmonics; the latter has relatively fewer harmonics, and the edges of the waveform are smooth and clear. It can be seen that the difference between the piano tube and the piano skin has a great impact on the tone.
In addition, filling the piano cavity with a layer of foam changes the response frequency of the piano tube and makes the sound richer. At the rear sound port of the piano tube, blocking different areas will make the sound dull.
4. The influence of the material of the piano code.
A small piano code will also have a great impact on the tone of the erhu. The piano code is the medium through which the vibration waves of the strings are transmitted to the piano skin. The density and resonant frequency of different woods have a great relationship with the formation of the erhu's tone. A piano with soft wood and low density has a soft and low sound; a piano with hard wood and high density has a high-pitched sound. For example, the bamboo code is crisp, the pine code is soft, and the ebony code is strong and tough. The piano bridge made of hard plastic makes the sound muffled.
In addition, the size of the bottom area of ??the piano bridge is related to the size of the contact area with the piano skin, and also has a certain impact on the tone. This may be related to the vibration frequency of the piano skin and the synthesis of harmonics. Tests have shown that the sound of the large piano is thicker, while the sound of the small piano is sharper.
In order to get the sound you like, you should prepare more piano keys of different materials according to the characteristics of your Erhu, and through comparative experiments, choose a satisfactory instrument to make the sound of your Erhu more pleasant to the ear.
5. The influence of sound filter gasket.
In order to eliminate the wolf noise, almost all erhus are equipped with sound filter pads under the bridge. Some people use sponges and foams, and some people use woolen cloth. The material, thickness, size, and installation location of the filter pad will all affect the sound of the erhu. Sponge foam will make the erhu's sound low, thick, and dull; soft fabric will make the sound soft and delicate; woolen material will make the sound bright and high-pitched. You can choose according to everyone's preferences. If the sound filter pad is installed close to the bridge, the tone will become thicker; if it is installed at the bottom of the piano barrel, the tone will be brighter; if it is installed in the middle of the bridge and the piano barrel, the tone will be between the first two. Can be adjusted according to individual needs. As for the thickness and size of the sound filter pad, the appropriate number of layers to be stacked will be determined based on experiments.
6. The influence of playing techniques.
Bowing is the basic skill of Erhu playing, and it is a very important basic skill. The quality of the bowing technique also has a great impact on the tone. Why do some people play stiff, musty, and unpleasant sounds, while masters produce round, full, smooth, beautiful sounds? The key lies in bowing. Correct bow movement requires the right hand to be fully relaxed, keep the bow flat, straight and stable, and pay attention to the closeness of the string, so that the sound produced can be beautiful and pleasant. If the bowing technique is wrong, the bow holding is unstable, the bowing force is tense, and the bow cannot stick to the string, the sound will be bad.
In addition to bowing, the left hand pressing the strings also affects the tone. Factors such as the location, strength, and virtuality of the fingers pressing the strings will all cause changes in the timbre. For example, if you touch it lightly with your fingertips and press it hard with your fingertips, the timbre will be completely different; if you press the string lightly and press it hard, the effect will be completely different; if you press the overtone point lightly, you can produce a clear and bright tone of the overtone.
In addition, the same note has different timbres on the outer strings and inner strings. In some pieces of music, such as "Liang Xiao", there are many places where the ?5? tone uses contrasting changes in the timbre of the inner and outer strings to express a cheerful and lively atmosphere.
2. Regarding the adjustment and application of Erhu’s timbre
1. Cultivate the Erhu’s timbre according to individual conditions.
A newly purchased erhu has its own timbre characteristics. Every player has his or her own unique playing techniques, and good playing techniques can give full play to the unique timbre of the erhu. During the fitting stage of a new piano, the amplitude and frequency of the vibration of the piano skin begin to be affected by the player's bowing technique, and there is a process of gradual adaptation. This process is also a process in which the original timbre of the erhu and the player's technique and personality blend and interact with each other. This process is over until you use your techniques to completely shake the piano skin open and your erhu tone is formed. Cultivating the sound of Erhu is like cultivating a child. You should patiently and carefully transfer your long bow, short bow, slow bow, fast bow, strong bow, weak bow and other techniques to the piano skin, so that it can feel your different dynamic characteristics. When it is completely accepted, responded to, and integrated, the human and piano can be integrated into one, and the Erhu sound quality, timbre, and charm with your own characteristics will emerge. If someone else comes to play your piano, they will definitely not be able to bring out your charm. This is called individual differences.
2. Adjust the timbre of the erhu according to local conditions.
The sound of the erhu is basically finalized after the production is completed. Due to the influence of the north and south regions, weather and climate environment, the timbre of the erhu will change to a certain extent.
We can use the variability of the Erhu's timbre to adjust the Erhu's timbre. For example, in the northern environment, the skin of a southern piano is prone to dryness and tightness, and the sound becomes brittle. This can be adjusted by changing the piano keys, replacing the sound filter pad, etc. You can also increase the humidity in the room to improve the storage environment of the erhu and make the skin moist. If the air humidity is high during a long rainy day and the sound of the erhu is low and muffled, you can change the instrument to a smaller one with a lighter and crisper sound, or choose a sound filter pad made of different materials to improve the sound.
3. Control the sound of Erhu according to the music conditions.
The erhu’s structural characteristics of no fingerboard and soft skin make the erhu’s tone variable. It also creates conditions for innovation in playing techniques and adding charm to the erhu, enriching the expressive power of the erhu. The erhu's slides, wiping, and plucking are unique; it simulates bird calls, horse neighs, and people's laughter, lifelike and vivid; rolling and vibrato are graceful and songlike; pressing and picking the strings makes one cry and complain; sliding and rubbing with the same finger has a strong local flavor "When you go to sad places, it makes people cry; when you show joy, you make people smile." Such beautiful and varied timbres are all achieved through skilled playing skills. Only by mastering the ability to control timbre can you produce various timbre effects according to the specific needs of the music.
The changeable timbre of the erhu is a feature and highlight of the traditional national musical instrument. It is precisely because of this unique feature that Erhu has richer expressiveness and appeal, and has a more national and Chinese flavor. It can reflect the charm of national music culture. Let us continue to innovate on the basis of inheriting traditional national music to make the sound of the erhu richer. ;