Instruments Register of Chinese Orchestra

Bangdi

Qudi

/
Xindi

&

Soprano Sheng

&

Alto Sheng

Bass Sheng

Soprano Suona

Tenor Suona

Alto Guan

Bass Guan

Yangqin

/
Riuqin/Xiaoruan

Pipa

Zhongruan

Daruan

Sanxian

21-String Zheng

/
Konghou/Harp

Timpani

in F

in C

Extreme notes

Over tones

in G

in F

&

&

Open string

ww

ww
ww
ww
ww

w
w
w
w
w

Extreme range

&

&w

##

in D

in A

Bawu
in D

w
w

#w

w
w

&b w

in F () (Frequently used in Chinese orchestra)

Xiao

#w

n n n b in Bb n w
b w

in G

n n b in B
b w
b

nnn

in F

w
w

###

in A

n##

in D

*
Super high notes are recommended to use for special effects

w
&

in E

*1.
2.

Xylophone

1.Tuning patterns are usually in Chinese pentatonic scales (major pentatonic scales).
While playing the Zheng, key modulating is highly recommended to closely related keys only.
2.Strings tuning patterns are varied, depends on composers need

5 Paigu
2
1

&

&

Open string

ww

Range

w
w

Soprano banhu

ww

&

Marinba

Range

###

Range

4-5

Bawu
in C

####

#w

Extreme range

&w

#w

in A

in C

Extreme range

&w

###

##

Semitone

#w

nnn

Chromatic scales can be played on keyed Suona

Extreme notes

in D

Extreme notes

Range

&

w w

#w

in A

#
nn #

&

Over tones

Extreme notes

&w

nw

nw

Trasitional non-keyed

I,II
Erhu

nw

#
n##

&

Range

ww

/
Bass Gehu/Contrabass

ww
w

&

w
ww
w
w
ww
w

&

/
Gehu/Violoncello

Open string

Gaohu

#w

Basic tones

ww

Zhonghu

? ##

#w

Keyed

##

in B b

w
w

Basic tones

Over tones

#w

ww
ww
wwww

bb

Chromatic scales can be played on keyed Sheng

Trasitional non-keyed
in G

&

17

( )

Trasitional non-keyed

w
w Unstable
# notes

401G

in F

w Basic tones

Keyed

&

nb

&

Over tones
Extreme notes

#w

Keyed

#w

in G

#w

#w

&

in C

?
&

Basic tones

&
&

Soprano Guan

Alto Suona

Bass Suona

Trasitional non-keyed
in G

?
&

Range

w
w

&

Yunluo

Jinghu
()

&
?

Range

Tubular Bells

&

Glockenspiel

Vibraphone

w
w

Alto banhu