Zhonghu


The alto erhu is a low-pitched Chinese bowed string instrument. Together with the erhu and gaohu, it is a member of the huqin family. It was developed in the 1940s as the alto member of the huqin family to increase the pitch range of the instruments used in a Chinese orchestra.
The alto erhu is analogous with the erhu, but is slightly larger and lower pitched. Its body is covered on the playing end with snakeskin. The instrument has two strings, which are generally tuned to the interval of a fifth, to A and E or to G and D.

Presence in popular music

Composer Jeremy Zuckerman has used the Zhonghu in critically acclaimed shows' music such as and The Legend of Korra. Spefifically, he has said in the podcast Song Exploder that along with the Erhu, the Zhonghu was used in The Legend of Korra's series finale music.