The fragrance of varnish and curing wood drifts by as you enter Side Door Strings, transporting you to an era when objects and the tools that built them were all made by hand. A violin in the raw sits ...

The Ruan, a traditional plucked string instrument of the Han Chinese, also known as the Ruan Xian or Ruan Qin, has a rich history and evolving identity. It was originally referred to as the Qin Pipa ...

Well, you are only about a millennium behind the times. But never fear. Opportunities to hear this ancient Chinese two-stringed instrument known for it’s plaintive humanlike tone are on the upswing. A ...

Stringed instruments make noise from the vibrations of tuned strings, using acoustic or electronic means to amplify those vibrations to the point where they’re loud enough to hear. The strings are ...