about the pipa
The pipa is a four stringed Chinese lute, whose name is made up of two Chinese syllables, "pí" (琵) and "pá" (琶) - referring to the way the instrument is played – "pí" is to strike outward with the right hand, and "pá" is to pluck inward towards the palm of the hand.
The pipa is notorious for having many left and right hand techniques, and is an incredibly expressive instrument with a distinctive tone.
The pipa is commonly tuned Adea, though other tunings are also used.
learning Resources
english language resources
Below are two excellent English language resources for people wanting to learn pipa, including tunings and lists of instrumental techniques and their symbols.
The first file has an extensive list of technique symbols and explanations, and the second has an excellent fretboard layout diagram.
Both of these files are from the Atlas Ensemble
The Hal Leonard Chinese Pipa method is an excellent English language introduction to playing the pipa, including video files and very clear technique instructions.
To find out more or to purchase a copy visit: Hal Leonard Chinese Pipa Method
Useful videos for beginners
Below are some useful instructional videos for beginners. The last two are both taken from short video series, so it is worth watching their other videos too!