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The xiao is a vertical flute that is believed to have originated from Xi Qiang (present day Gansu) during the Han Dynasty. Then called the qiangdi, it had four finger holes and one blow hole.

A fifth hole was added to the end of the qiangdi around 77 BC to 37 BC, and by AD 247, the qiangdi possessed a total of six playing holes - largely similar to the current xiao that we know of.

The Chinese xiao - or dongxiao - is constructed from wood, and comes in eight different keys. It is one of the instruments commonly found within the Chinese orchestra.

Due to the nature of the instrument, the xiao is naturally soft in volume and does not possess a large range of dynamics. The instrument’s timbre is sweet and tranquil; it is used on occasion for solos and usually performed with either the qixianqin (seven stringed zither), the ruan, pipa or erhu. Music for the xiao is typically gentle, calm and quiet in nature.

Techniques required for the playing of this instrument is similar to that of the dizi, but as it is relatively less flexible, more skill is needed to execute these techniques.

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classified as a string plucked instrument

It is hammered using sticks

Stringed in groups; each group consist of 4-5 individual strings that are tuned to thee single same pitch

Long bridges with plastic, ivory or metallic tipss used to support the strings

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When the hole is open, there is no sound produced

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Covering the holes on a traditional sheng's pipe will cause the entire length of the pipes to resonate with the reed

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Characteristics:

The Suona, also called laba or haidi, is a Chinese sorna (double-reeded horn).

It has a distinctively loud and high-pitched sound.

Is used frequently in Chinese traditional music ensembles, particularly those that perform outdoors.

It is an important instrument in the folk music of northern China, particularly the provinces of Shandong and Henan, where it has long been used for festival and military purposes.

It is still used, in combination with sheng mouth organs, gongs, drums, and sometimes other instruments, in wedding and funeral processions.

The Suona is played by blowing into the mouthpiece, which is similar to how the oboe in a western orchestra is played.

Construction of the Suona:

The Suona as used in China has a conical wooden body, similar to that of the G yaling horn used by the Tibetan ethnic group, both of which uses

Metal

tubular brass

Or copper bocal to which a small double reed is affixed

And possesses a detachable metal bell at its end.

The double-reed gives the instrument a sound similar to that of the modern oboe.

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Reed vibrates at a fixed frequency unlike single reed, double reed and pointed free reeds

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Many different types of sheng, such as traditional, keyed, soprana, alto, tenor, bass and keyboard

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consists of vertical pipes

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The pipa (Chinese: 琵琶) is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments.

The instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12 to 26.

Traditional Chinese narrative prefers the story of the Han Chinese princess Liu Xijun (劉細君) sent to marry a barbarian Wusun king during the Han dynasty, with the pipa being invented so she could play music on horseback to soothe her longings

The pear-shaped pipa is likely to have been introduced to China from Central Asia, Gandhara, and/or India.[2] Pear-shaped lutes have been depicted in Kusana sculptures from the 1st century AD.[17][18] The pear-shaped pipa may have been introduced during the Han dynasty and was referred to as Han pipa.

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Erhu is mostly played sitting down with the soundbox played on the left thigh
Violin is mostly played standing up (depends on orchestra, ensemble, solo)

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The dizi (Chinese: 笛子; pinyin: dízi,） is a Chinese transverse flute.

It is widely used in many genres of Chinese folk music,  Chinese opera, and the modern Chinese orchestra.

Most dizi are made of bamboo

Dizi is played by blowing

Dizi produced in southern Chinese regions such as Chaozhou are often made of very slender, lightweight, light-colored bamboo and are much quieter in tone.

It has six to seven holes

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Python skin is flat and stretched (Erhu)
Has a curved plate (Violin)

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Top is made out python skin (Erhu)
Made out of wooden plate (Violin)

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-Chinese plucked Zither
-16 or more strings
-movable bridge
-modern version has 21 strings and bridges
-ancestor of several other Asian types of zither instruments
-the “zheng” in Guzheng means ancient
Listen to the sound here: https://youtu.be/ujzMHLac404
Zither: a musical instrument consisting of a flat wooden sound box with numerous strings stretched across it, placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum. It is used especially in central European folk music.

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Violin → 4 strings (A4, D4, G3,E5)

Erhu  → 2 strings (A4, D4)