Dan nhi tuner (Vietnamese fiddle)
The đàn nhị, also called đàn cò or đờn cò, has two open strings tuned a perfect fifth apart. This page starts on the modern pair D4–A4: D4 = 293.66 Hz on the inner string and A4 = 440 Hz on the outer string, the same as the Chinese erhu. A Vietnamese instrument manual hosted on Hồn Quê states that the nhị is now tuned to Rê1–La1 (d1–a1), which is D4–A4.
Open-string notes and frequencies of the đàn nhị
Đàn nhị: two open strings a perfect fifth apart. The D–A pair follows the Hồn Quê manual; bài Bắc, bài Nam and chèo follow the Vietnamese Institute for Musicology. Equal-tempered frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz.
| Tuning | Inner string (Hz) | Outer string (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Rê–La | D4 · 293.66 | A4 · 440.00 |
| Bài Bắc | G4 · 392.00 | D5 · 587.33 |
| Bài Nam | F4 · 349.23 | C5 · 523.25 |
| Chèo | C4 · 261.63 | G4 · 392.00 |
Vietnamese Institute for Musicology — Two-stringed fiddle Nhi
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and choose the pair: modern Rê–La, bài Bắc, bài Nam or chèo.
- Set the silk loop (khuyết) first: sliding it down towards the body raises both strings, sliding it up lowers them.
- Bow the inner (thicker) string slowly and evenly, without vibrato or pressing, and turn the peg to the target.
- Tune the outer (thinner) string, then listen to the open fifth between the two.
Help and explanations
The Vietnamese Institute for Musicology lists traditional pairs by repertoire: bài Bắc (bright mode) G4–D5, bài Nam (sad mode) F4–C5 and chèo C4–G4. Bắc and Nam here are modes, not north and south. In practice the nhị follows the singer or the ensemble, and A4 = 440 Hz is only a starting point.
Inner string, outer string and a bow trapped between them
The inner string is the thicker one, nearer the player, and gives the low note; the outer string is thinner and higher. The bow hair runs between the two strings, so press it only against the string you are tuning. If both strings sound, the needle will jump between two notes. The nhị has no fingerboard or frets, so the tuner checks open strings only; finger placement, vibrato and pressed inflections are for your ear.
Choosing the pair for the repertoire
The Hồn Quê manual describes the D–A pair as comfortable to play, with suitable tension and a good tone; it is a modern convention, not a rule of the tradition. Some players move to a high G–D to play in ensembles, and many beginner methods use C–G. In cải lương the đờn cò usually stays in one fixed tuning and the player changes hand positions for male or female voices.
Fourths and minor sevenths also appear in the tradition, but without fixed note pairs; use the chromatic tuner for those. Be wary of the "outer E5, inner C5" example on some shop pages: it is not a fifth.
Tips
- Wooden pegs hold by friction: push the peg gently inwards as you turn it so it does not slip.
- Silk or nylon strings drift faster than steel ones; check again after a few minutes of playing and when the temperature changes.
- Once tuned, the thick string feels slightly softer under the bow than the thin one. That is normal.
Frequently asked questions
What notes is a dan nhi tuned to?
The modern pair is D4–A4: inner string 293.66 Hz, outer string 440 Hz, a fifth apart. Traditional pairs include G4–D5, F4–C5 and C4–G4.
Are đàn cò and đàn nhị different instruments?
Đàn cò or đờn cò is the southern name for the same two-string bowed fiddle. Construction varies by region and maker.
Do bài Bắc and bài Nam mean northern and southern tuning?
No. They are modes: bài Bắc is bright and uses G4–D5; bài Nam is sad and uses F4–C5.
Is the đàn nhị the same as the erhu?
They belong to the same family of two-string bowed fiddles and share the D–A pair, but the đàn nhị has its own history in Vietnam. For the Chinese instrument, see the erhu tuner.