Which instrument is the pear-shaped Chinese plucked lute with four strings and standard tuning A-d-c-a?

• A. Pipa
• B. Erhu
• C. Yangqin
• D. Dizi

Answer: (A)

The instrument described is the pipa, a four-string Chinese lute known for its pear-shaped body and plucked playing style. Its distinctive shape and the technique of plucking with a pick produce bright, rapid passages that are a hallmark of traditional Chinese lute repertoire. The tuning A-d-c-a is a common setup for the pipa, enabling a wide range of melodic and harmonic possibilities on the fretboard. The other instruments don’t fit: the erhu is a two-string bowed instrument played upright; the yangqin is a trapezoidal hammered dulcimer struck with mallets; the dizi is a bamboo flute.