Jianpu turns a melody into scale degrees 1 through 7. That compact system suits the erhu's single melodic line, but a digit only makes sense beside its key line, octave marks, and rhythm marks. Read those four layers before reaching for a finger.
01 Start with the key declaration
If the score says 1 = D, digit 1 is D. The standard D-key xianfa makes inner open D the 1 and outer open A the 5. In another key the same open strings carry different digits; use the xianfa chart rather than assuming every 1 belongs under the same finger.
02 Digits, rests, and octaves
Digits 1–7 are scale degrees. A 0 is a rest. A dot above a digit raises it one octave; a dot below lowers it one octave. More than one dot continues the shift. On erhu, octave marks often decide both string choice and position, so do not strip them out when copying a phrase.
03 Rhythm lives under and after the digit
A plain digit commonly carries one beat in the prevailing meter. One underline halves the duration; two underlines halve it again. A dash after a digit sustains that pitch, while bar lines group the meter. Clap or tap the line before bowing it: a right pitch at the wrong duration is still the wrong phrase.
04 Map the line to bow and string
Mark where the melody crosses between inner D and outer A, then decide where one bow continues and where a new stroke begins. Jianpu tells you pitch and duration; erhu technique also needs string choice, bow direction, position, and written ornament instructions. Soloist Erhu keeps those directions beside the numbered line instead of pretending the digits contain the whole performance.
05 Read huayin and rouxian as measured gestures
A huayin needs a known start, a continuous contour, and a known landing. Rouxian needs a stable centre with a controlled rate and depth. Learn the plain target pitch first; then add the gesture. On a clear mic signal, the app measures those features instead of awarding credit for any pitch movement near the note.
06 From one line to a daily path
The structured 98-lesson English jianpu course moves from open strings and first-position digits through positions 2–3, all six xianfa systems, huayin, and rouxian. A separate catalog contains 3 source-verified public-domain arrangements and 95 original erhu studies. Its 392 practice charts are accompaniment-only: they give the player a harmonic and rhythmic context without embedding a protected modern melody.
Related reading
Questions
What do the numbers 1–7 mean in erhu jianpu?
They are scale degrees relative to the declared key; read the key line before mapping a digit to a physical pitch.
What does 0 mean in jianpu?
Zero is a rest. Dots change octave, underlines shorten duration, and a dash sustains the preceding pitch.
Does jianpu show every erhu technique automatically?
No. Pitch and rhythm need bow direction, string choice, position, and explicit ornament guidance to become a complete erhu instruction.