When you first come into contact with cucurbit flute, you must first choose a cucurbit flute that suits you. If your child has thin fingers, you can choose a cucurbit flute with a tenor tone in C with a closer distance between the sound holes. For adults, it is best to choose a B-flat alto, which makes it easier to get started.

C-tuned Hulusi:

bB-tuned Hulusi:

When practicing for the first time, please note that generally speaking, the left hand is on top and the right hand is on bottom; the ring finger of the right hand, Press the first, second, and third holes of the middle finger and index finger respectively, and the little finger will naturally attach to the side of the appendage, and so on with the left hand; relax the arm and wrist, and naturally bend the fingers inward moderately.

Beginners should pay attention to the practice of fingering. Generally, when they first come into contact with Hulusi, they should first practice the tube sound as "5 (suo)", and start by pressing all the way to make the bass 5, that is, press all the sound holes. Stop, and the pronunciation starts from the bass "5 (suo)". The following picture shows the fingering table for the bass 5 by pressing all the way:

The fingering table for the 5th bass sound

Pay attention to the practice of breathing , especially the exhalation should not be too strong, otherwise it will be difficult to play the high notes and there will be noise, so at the beginning, focus on practicing a few bass and alto notes, and the alto notes are easier to practice. Wait until the breath of these notes can be played. Once you have complete control, practice hitting high notes.

Just like playing the flute, you should press the sound hole with the pads of your fingers to prevent air leakage. When playing, don’t raise your fingers too high, just leave them a little away. This way, practicing vibrato is better than playing. smoothly.

When practicing Hulusi, it is better to practice standing at the beginning, so that the breath will be relatively smooth. When practicing, do not wait until the exhalation is completed before inhaling. Start inhaling after exhaling most of the breath, and Once you feel suffocated and have chest tightness, immediately put down the cucurbit flute, take a deep breath, and rest for a while before practicing again.

Commonly used fingering table for Hulusi and the names of various parts of Hulusi:

Commonly used fingering table for Hulusi and the names of various parts of Hulusi

The facts of learning Hulusi It’s not difficult. It’s faster to learn with someone’s guidance. You can also learn it by yourself without any guidance. To learn by yourself, you must first have simple knowledge of music theory and be able to read simple musical notation, then buy a cucurbit flute and an introductory book on cucurbit flute learning. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Most people can’t play loudly or control the intensity at the beginning. Try it slowly. After you play a note, it will not be a problem to learn. Follow the Hulusi fingering table and practice one note at a time. Don't rush things.

Extended information

When you own a cucurbit flute, you should pay attention to the temperature difference and humidity between the main cucurbit pipe and the deputy cucurbit pipe. Most of the natural cracks of the pipe are caused by these two points. If you are using a socket cucurbit main pipe, please note that when adjusting the socket adjustment rate, keep your hands close to the copper connection and slowly adjust it. Never hold the head and main pipe. Tighten the end of the main pipe, which will crack the purple bamboo around the copper connection. This is why many cracks in the main and auxiliary pipes of Hulusi are at the sound hole!

After using copper for a long time, it will become tight and astringent. Wipe off the dirt and patina in the copper sleeve and apply lubricant to avoid accelerating the wear of the copper sleeve and excessive force when tightening. Crack the main and auxiliary pipes of the cucurbit flute. Moisture will be generated in the cucurbit flute after use in winter. You must use a homemade cotton brush to wipe away the moisture in the main cucurbit flute.

Then hang the cucurbit silk upside down (some cucurbit silk experts believe that it cannot be hung upside down, this is just my personal opinion), let it dry naturally and then put it into the set box. The cucurbit silk must be kept dry! If it gets damp, mold, cracking, paint peeling, cracks, and even intonation will occur. Copper sleeves should be oiled regularly, preferably dry oil. Hulusi is most afraid of falling, being exposed to the sun, being eaten by insects, and growing mold, so you should take good care of it when using it.

Daily Precautions

1. Hulusi must be kept appropriately dry. It should be placed in the packaging box during the season that is too dry, and it should not be hung in a ventilated place, otherwise the bamboo will easily crack; it will not work if it is too wet, as the instrument will become moldy over time. After using the instrument, it is best to hang it and put it in the box after it is basically dry.

2. Handle with care, no pressure, no bumping, and no exposure to the sun

3. Dedicated personnel only

4. Avoid blowing or inhaling.

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5. The cucurbit flute that is often blown should be hung with the mouthpiece downward and in a ventilated place.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia: Purchase and maintenance of cucurbits