Erhu

Erhu?

An erhu? It’s a two stringed, snake skinned kind of lute. See?

Lute? I thought they had fretted necks and a wooden resonant soundboard.

You’re right. There’s no finger board but this allows great flexibility. And the snake skin, python skin, gives the erhu its distinctive, almost nasal sound.

And lutes are plucked, right?

Point taken. Whereas the erhu is played with a bow. Usually horse hair.

A lot of animals go into making an erhu?

A law was passed in 1988 protecting endangered species, including pythons. Erhu skins are now made from farmed pythons, not wild. And you can only take two erhus out of China on your travels.