It is impossible to find out when music began to exist in human society. Before language came into being, human beings already knew how to express their meaning and feelings by using the level and strength of sound. With the development of human labor, the chant of unifying labor rhythm and the cry of transmitting information to each other have gradually appeared, which is the most primitive musical prototype; When people celebrate the harvest and share the fruits of labor, they often beat stone tools and wood to express their joy and joy. This is the embryonic form of the original musical instrument.

Legend of the origin of stringed instruments

Mercury is the messenger of the gods in Greek mythology. It is said that when he was walking along the Nile, his feet touched something and made a wonderful sound. When he picked it up, he found it was an empty turtle shell with a dry rib inside. Mercury was inspired to invent stringed instruments. Although later generations had stringed instruments before Mercury, they may have been inspired by it.

Second, the legend of the origin of wind instruments

The ancient history of China recorded the era of the Yellow Emperor five thousand years ago. A musician named Ling Lun went to Kunhua Mountain in the west to collect bamboo to make a flute. At that time, there happened to be five phoenixes flying in the air, and he was in tune with the law. Although this story cannot be completely believed, it is also a mysterious legend about the origin of wind instruments.

Third, China ancient music.

The first emperor of China, Huangdi, was a famous monarch five thousand years ago. He created calendars and characters. At that time, in addition to Ling Lun mentioned above, there was also a musician named Fuxi. It is said that Fuxi is a snake with a head, and she was pregnant in her mother's womb for twelve years. He played a piano with 50 strings. Because the timbre was too sad, the Yellow Emperor cut it in half and changed it to 25 strings.

In addition, in the legend of the Yellow Emperor, there was a musician named Shennong who taught people to farm and found medicine, which is said to be a cow's head. He created the banjo, which is natural if it is assumed that the music at that time used pentatonic scale.