When performing the small sanxian of the Yi nationality, you can use the standing or sitting position, with the strap on the neck and the qin bar slanted in front of the chest.

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 out the sound, and the index finger is often used to touch the strings.

The right hand uses the thumb and index finger to pluck the strings to pronounce. The minor sanxian is set with the relationship of fifth and fourth, that is, the relationship between the inner and middle strings is fifth, the middle and outer strings are fourth, and the inner and outer strings are octaves.

Constant tuning is: f, c1, f1 or c1, g1, c2. The sound is soft, crisp, and loud. The left-hand skills include glissando, strumming, and rubbing, and the right-hand skills include strumming, plucking, rolling, and sweeping. It can be used for solo, ensemble or to accompany folk songs, dances and Yi operas.

On traditional festivals and festive occasions of the Yi nationality, people wear festive costumes and gather together to sing and dance happily, which is called "jumping music".