KVR Audio

VeXKoN · Post by **VeXKoN** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:56 am

It's really bugging me.

Its in the song plasticman(or plastician)- japan

lateralus778 · Post by **lateralus778** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:16 am

dont you mean "Japan by Plastician"?

that took me forever to research. Havent heard the song, and dont have it either but you might want to listen to these instruments:

Shamisen
Shakuhachi
Koto
Taiko (doubt it's this one)
Biwa
Sho
Kokyu

Maybe look on youtube or something for examples?

VeXKoN · Post by **VeXKoN** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:22 am

bah, youtube's blocked at work :-0

Peel · Post by **Peel** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:49 pm

I think the kokyu is the only non-obscure Japanese bowed instrument, so I guess it's likely to be that.

lateralus778 · Post by **lateralus778** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:57 pm

yeah, if it's bowed then it's probably a kokyu.
But keep in mind, it could also be an erhu (which is Chinese) and perhaps Plastician just grouped together all asian instruments.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:03 pm

If it sounds very "hoarse," rough, and nasally resonant, and especially if dramatic pitch bends are prominent in the performance, the erhu or one of its differently-sized variants would be good bets. And yes, it's Chinese. Love that sound.

selfconstruct · Post by **selfconstruct** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:30 pm

I had a listen to that track. It does sound exactly like an erhu (or yiwu as well call it round these parts). I haven't heard the kokyu before, so I can't be sure it's not that.

VeXKoN · Post by **VeXKoN** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:37 pm

Ok guys thanks for the infos!

P.T. · Post by **P.T.** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:55 pm

I have not listened, but by the "hoarse, rough, nasally sound", I would say Chinese er-hu also called yee wu.

It's a 2 string violin type thing you play sitting upright on your thigh.

Take a look here.

http://www.chineekong.com/free.htm

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:56 pm

The description was just my guess, meant as hints to the OP in case they were on target. :-) I've not heard the piece in question.

P.T. · Post by **P.T.** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:51 am

Well, feeling a bit silly for not reading very closely, but what the heck, if it IS an erhu then maybe he can use the link I posted.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:36 am

And if not he'll probably enjoy another great-sounding instrument. Wish I could afford to buy the entire Kong Audio line. Some day!

Peel · Post by **Peel** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:58 pm

I've heard the track, and it does sound a lot like an erhu, but so does a kyoku. I don't really know the kyoku well enough to say for sure. The style of playing (& recording) is an incredibly gentrified "exotic soundtrack" sort of thing. They sucked all the nasal out that they possibly could.

danjamin · Post by **danjamin** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 5:29 pm

Wish I had seen this sooner, I would have been able to answer... well, 14 years later I can confirm the instrument is a ERHU.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 6:05 pm

yay!

What japanese instrument is this?