The pipa, pípá, or p'i-p'a (Chinese: 琵琶) is a traditional Chinese musical instrument belonging to the plucked category of instruments. Sometimes called the "Chinese lute", the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12 to 31.

pipa, short-necked Chinese lute prominent in Chinese opera orchestras and as a solo instrument. It has a shallow, pear-shaped body with a wooden belly and, sometimes, two crescent-shaped sound holes. The modern pipa has 29 or 31 frets, 6 on the neck and the rest on the body of …

Oct 1, 2003 · The Chinese pipa, a four-string plucked lute, descends from West and Central Asian prototypes and appeared in China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534). Traveling over ancient trade routes, it brought not only a new sound but also new repertoires and musical theory.

Nov 2, 2024 · The pipa, a traditional Chinese lute with a history dating back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), remains a symbol of China’s rich musical heritage. This plucked, pear-shaped instrument features a short neck and a shallow wooden body typically crafted from red sandalwood, rosewood, or mahogany.

Jun 28, 2022 · The pipa, sometimes called the Chinese lute is a pear-shaped, traditional Chinese musical instrument that belongs to the plucked string category of instruments. It is one of the most popular Chinese instruments and has been played for almost two millenniums in China as a solo instrument or in ensemble settings.

The pipa (pronounced "pee-paa") is a four-stringed lute, one of the oldest Chinese musical instruments with over 2000 years of history.

Pipa - Chinese Plucked String Instrument. An instrument with a rich heritage, the pipa lute is undeniably one of the most well-known plucked string instruments in the Chinese orchestra.

Sep 28, 2024 · The Pipa (Chinese: 琵琶 |pípá| – “pee-paa”) is a traditional Chinese musical instrument. It is also known as the Chinese lute or Chinese guitar. Its distinctive onomatopoeic name is derived from two basic pluck techniques: ‘pí’ (琵), meaning strike outwards, and ‘pá’ (琶), meaning strum inwards.

Nov 23, 2023 · Before the Tang Dynasty, the term “琵琶” broadly referred to all short-necked lutes (also known as the lute family) in Chinese language. The Chinese Pípa spread to other East Asian regions, evolving into the Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Ryukyuan Pipas. The origins of the Pípa are unclear.

Apr 4, 2025 · In the 20th century, through the unremitting efforts of a large number of performing artists and composers, a plethora of techniques and compositions has emerged, with the result that the pipa is now one of China's most important national instruments for solo, accompaniment and ensemble recital.