The pipa has four strings, which are called winding strings, old strings, middle strings, and sub strings from thick to thin. The head has four strings on both sides of the pipa, two on each side. When tying the strings, a certain string must be tied to a specified jig, that is, the winding string is tied to the winding jig, the old string is tied to the old jig, the middle string is tied to the middle jig, and the sub-string is tied to the old jig. On the Zixianzhen, it is not allowed to tie at will.

The upper end of the string is fastened to the Zhenzi, and the lower end is fastened to the cover of the hand. There are four string holes on the cover. When tying the string, first tie the lower end of the string to the cover hand. The method of wearing and tying on the hands can be divided into four actions:

First, first put the string in the string hole of the cover, and the end is about two inches away;

Second, turn the end of the string around behind the string;

Third, turn the end of the string under the string body at the string hole;

Fourth, finally pull the end of the string tight into a knot, insert it into the string hole, and pull the string body up.

The above is the method of tying the string. Metal strings are generally used. The method of tying the metal string is to use the small circle at the lower end of the string. After the string is worn in the small hole of the cover, the upper end is passed through the small circle at the lower end, and then the upper end of the string is pulled up and tied on the zigzag. There are three ways to tie strings using the small circle at the bottom:

The first is to place the lower circle on the outside of the overhand. This method is suitable for the pipa with a large distance between the string body and the fret (especially the 25th fret, etc.), which forms a "wave string";

The second is to place the small circle at the lower end inside the covering hand. This method is suitable for lutes with a small distance between the string body and the frets.

The third is to press the lower end pocket of the string into the string body inside the cover hand. This method of tying can make the string body at the upper mouth of the hand not easily broken and prolong the service life of the string. The intonation of the following part of the frets with this method is the same as the second method.

Note: On the same pipa, after using the first method, do not switch to the second method and vice versa. Because if you use it arbitrarily, in some of the following grades, the intonation is prone to a little error.