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Differences between Yueqin and Ruan

While both instruments have a moon-shaped soundboard, the modern Ruan uses a bridge, whereas the Yueqin simply attaches the strings the frame, similar to the design of the Pipa. In addition, most Yueqin do not have the obvious double soundholes, like the Ruan, instead they have the single small soundhole located under the where the strings are attached (also similar to Pipa.) Both features gives the Yueqin a sound quality in between Ruan and Pipa. While the Ruan is used mostly for it’s lower range instruments Yueqin is primarily a treble tuned instrument, even though the size of its soundboard is larger than the zhongruan.

Southern yueqin have a long neck, use two strings, and have an improvisational and flexible intonation practice; some Southern Yueqin also have acoustical metal coils inside the soundboard to amplify the instrument. Northern “yueqin” have very short neck, and have bamboo in both the front and back, requiring the performer to hold the instrument away from their body. The northern instruments range from single to four stringed instruments. Regardless of the neck size or strings, all Yueqin are tuned around the same treble pitch level. A common technique in performance is “snapping” the pick on the string (similar to Japanese shamisen.) Yueqin is the loudest member of the plucked lute family of Chinese instruments; one instrument can easily be heard over a full Chinese Orchestra.