The three-string playing method is to sit and play, place the body on the right thigh, hold the neck with the left hand and press the handle, and the body is at a 45-degree angle. According to the different sizes of the sanxian, usually the small sanxian is played with a plectrum, and the big sanxian is played with false nails.

The sound of the three strings is dry and the volume is loud. From the 1950s to the 1960s, after Xiao Jiansheng's reform, the timbre became thick and bright, and the large-scale sanxian range was more than 3 octaves. Used in local music, also used in symphonic national orchestras, there is also a large number of solos and ensembles.