Jazz Articles about Wu Man

Wu Man: Pipa

by C. Michael Bailey
July 25, 2003

For the uninitiated, the pipa is the lute-like instrument one hears often when dining in Chinese restaurants. More twingy than twangy, the pipa has a much more supple, pliant sound than the guitar. It is a four stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body. Its short, bent neck has 30 frets which extend onto the soundboard, affording a 3-½ octave range. The pipa has been mentioned in ancient texts dating from the second century BCE. There is a considerable amount of ...