When playing, you can take a standing or sitting position, slung the strap or string on the left shoulder, the piano bar is placed across the chest, the piano barrel is placed on the right side of the waist, the piano face is facing forward, and the headstock is inclined to the upper left.

The tiger's mouth in the left hand holds the piano rod, and the index finger, middle finger and ring finger are used to press the strings to pick up the sound. The right hand uses the thumb and middle finger to pluck the strings.

Lao Shi Sanxian is tuned by the relationship of fifth and fourth, that is, the relationship between the inner string and the middle string is a fifth, the middle string and the outer string are a fourth relationship, and the inner string and the outer string are an octave relationship. The constant tuning is: b, f1 , b1 or f, c1, f1. The sound is mellow and soft.

The left hand often presses the strings with the index finger, and touches the strings with the fingernails instead of the belly of the fingers. This special string pressing technique, which is called "crisp finger" by the folk, can make the pronunciation clear and bright and the reverberation is long. The left hand has glissando and kneading. , strumming, strumming and banding techniques. The right hand has techniques such as plucking and rolling.

It can be used for solo, ensemble or to accompany folk songs and dances. It is the favorite stringed instrument of the Yi people. Young lads often play and entertain themselves and use it in their love life.

During traditional ethnic festivals such as Torch Festival and Flower Arranging Festival, the Yi people wear festive costumes and gather together to sing, dance and dance to the fullest. In Lushi Township, Honghe County, the Yi nationality band consists of three-stringed, four-stringed, bamboo flute, Bawu, Konoha, and stringed instruments, with vocal participation.