Question

How does Chinese music sound different from the music you listen to?

Answer 1

Answer:

In general Asian music, but most particularly Chinese, has called the attention of westerners because of the sensed differences with the music that we are accostumed to listen to in the west. This is why, when we go into a restaurant that is Asian, and we hear the tunes being played, we become aware of how different they sound from what we are accustomed to.

There are several reasons for why this happens, but the most important of all is the difference in the scale system that Chinese music composers use, versus ours. While in the west we use a 7-note scale system, most Asian music, and most particularly Chinese music, use what is known as the pentatonic, or 5-note scale.

Also, Chinese music is usually played with solo instruments, or very small ensembles, not how it is done in the west, and the emphasis tends to be on certain types of wind instruments such as zheng, and also on cymbals and gongs, which give this type of music a very peculiar characteristic.

These are only a few of the reasons why Chinese music may sound so different to what western people are used to.