231 gekkin

( JPEG format )

Japan
body: paulownia; L.64.5cm
strings: 2 double courses, silk; frets: 8
plectrum: 1, tortoise shell
range: 2 oct. from g' ; tuning: g'-d"

The player rests the body of the instrument on the left knee and holds it at a diagonal to the torso. The strings are plucked with a plectrum held in the right hand. Inside the body there is a thin metal bar which produce a characteristic buzzing effect in the tone quality. Used in minshingaku (Ming and Qing style) ensemble music.

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