Suona is divided into the following categories according to pitch, length, and region:

pitch classification

Suona is divided into three types: high-pitched, middle-pitched and low-pitched according to the pitch of the barrel tone (the pitch of the third hole is used as the tuning name). Those with a barrel tone above #f1 are high-pitched suonas, those between #f～f'1 are medium-pitched suonas, and those below f are low-pitched suonas. For example, a suona with a barrel tone of a1 is called a high-pitched suona in D, and a suona with a barrel tone of a is called a mid-pitched suona in D.

Long and short classification

Suonas in different places are different, some are big, some are small, some are rough, some are soft, and there are many kinds.

small suona

The rod is 22 to 30 cm long. The most commonly used is the rod with a length of 23 cm (also known as "three squeaks"). Popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces. The timbre is soft and ethereal, and is mostly used for solo or ensemble performances, especially with erhu and other ensembles. The whistle used in different places is also different, there are reeds, straws, and brown-purple gum shells (but they blow very softly). The suona in Huichang, Jiangxi Province, is made of silver, and the diameters of the upper and lower mouths are very different. A hollow tube is installed in the tube from the lower end of the intruder to the upper end of the eighth hole, which has a unique sound. The ensemble with erhu and other stringed instruments makes it more pleasant to listen to. Popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces
sea flute
The pronunciation is majestic and high-pitched. Popular in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui.
Chinese suona
The rod is 32 to 40 cm long. The most commonly used is the rod with a length of 37 cm (aka "black rod"). Popular in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui. The volume is between the large and small suona, and the tone is soft. Mostly used for singing and dancing accompaniment. Small and medium-sized suonas are widely spread in the southern provinces of my country, and are called "Southern Suonas" in the north. The volume of the Chinese suona is not too small or too small, and it is very melodious when used in singing and dancing accompaniment.
big suona
The rod is 42 to 57 cm long. The most commonly used ones are poles with a length of 50 cm (aka "big poles"). Popular in Northeast China, Shanhaiguan and Eastern Hebei. The whistle is made of reeds, and the reeds are mostly pocket-shaped.
plus key suona
Developed in the 1960s. The sound holes on the rod are listed according to the twelve equal temperament, which improves the semitone and facilitates the modulation. There are four kinds of treble, middle, tenor and bass. Compared with traditional suona, the sound is richer, the volume is increased, and the sound range is expanded.

Geographical classification

Hakka Suona
Hakka suona has a long history. According to historical records, as early as more than a thousand years ago, "drummers were on the road, going to and from people, and even more." The Hakka suona is divided into sad and happy tunes. The happy tune is light and joyful. When played, it is vigorous, vigorous, harmonious and pleasing to the ear; the sad tune is euphemistic and resentful. In the folk, suona has a deep foundation. In ordinary people’s homes, they have to invite several suona players to celebrate weddings, funerals, birthday celebrations, move to a new house, and during the Chinese New Year and festivals. It has developed to this day. Suona Band.
Zhoujiaban Suona
The Zhou Family Class is the Zhou Family Wind and Percussion Class, also known as the Zhou Family Suona Class, the Zhou Family Drum Class, and the Bolin Horns. It is composed of members of the Zhou clan, such as the Chinese wind master Zhou Zhengyu, who settled in the Bolin Village of Yinji, Lingbi, Anhui Province. Chinese Folk Music Class. Since its founding in the late Qing Dynasty, Zhoujiaban has passed down the family for six generations and has experienced more than 100 years of vicissitudes. There are more than 100 musicians, male and female, old and young, spanning Sulu, Anhui and Zhejiang, and are well-known overseas.
Zichang Suona
Zichang suona mainly refers to a large suona with a length of three feet and two feet of five feet. It is an important part of the suona in northern Shaanxi. If the long suona song is divided by speed, there are three types: slow, medium and allegro. The Adagio includes the Adagio and the original (also called the grabbing board), both of which are in 4/4 time, and the original is slightly faster than the Adagio. The middle board and the allegro are both in 2/4 time, and the allegro is faster than the middle board when playing. The middle board includes the flow board and the stack board; the allegro board includes the second flow board and the boiled head brand. The playing basically follows the plate connection rule of slow start, middle continuation and fast end. Each type of board connection must have transitional music, commonly known as "passing the drum" or "challenging the board", "changing the board". The same board-type song change card should also add "over drum".
Western Fujian Suona
Usually two pieces are played together, called "Gong Blowing" and "嫲 Blowing". They have the same structure, but different lengths and thicknesses. The timbre of "Gong Blow" is majestic, and the pronunciation of "Hui Chui" is ethereal.
Qinyang Suona
Henan Jiaozuo Qinyang Suona is a wooden oboe musical instrument. Its volume is large, the sound quality is majestic and rough, and it is easy to play. It is good at expressing warm and unrestrained scenes and the mood of great joy and sorrow.
In 1606, the music saint Zhu Zaiyu, a native of Qinyang, explained the twelve equal temperaments in a scientific way, solved the problem of "the rotation of the phase is the palace", which has been controversial in the past, and improved the pronunciation position of the suona. The "Three-Eyed Pipe" was developed in Shanghai, which has made great contributions to the development of my country's national wind music. Zhu Zaiyu also served as the foreman of Qinyang suona performances. He founded the "Golden Drum Club" in Jiufeng Temple. Every September 23 of the lunar calendar, suona troupes from all over the world would meet here. Under the influence of Zhu Zaiyu, the number of suona classes in Huaiqing Prefecture gradually increased, from the "Tongle Club" and "Jiajia Class" in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, to the "Majin Class" and "Mao Dan Class" from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China. "Galaxy Class" has a great influence locally. There is a saying in Qinyang that "big sedan chair, Ma Jin blows, Ma Jin does not blow and does not get married", "Girls and son-in-law arrive, Mao Dan cannot get on the sedan without blowing". The suona in Qinyang can be divided into four major factions as a whole. Taking Qinhe as the boundary, it is divided into Qinbei School and Qinnan School, and the two schools have different playing styles.
Big Bamboo Suona
Dazhu Bamboo Suona is a unique bamboo suona in Yuehua Township, Dazhu County, East Sichuan. It is listed in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Sichuan Province with its powerful and beautiful rhythm. Hundreds of years ago, suona was introduced to Bashu, and the Dazhu people used local bamboo to make suona. After development, the craftsmanship of bamboo suona has become more and more sophisticated. Bamboo suona consists of four parts: whistle, sky heart, pole and horn. The whistle is made of local oat stalks in Dazhu County, the poles are made of Luohan bamboo, which is a specialty of Dazhu County, and the horns are woven from local yellow bamboo silk, then scraped and painted with earth paint, and put on the lower end of the pole. Loading and unloading; today's big bamboo suona has 6 holes and is pentatonic.