The tones of folk songs are mostly high-pitched, loud, tactful and graceful, and they have an unrestrained character of free expression and direct expression of the heart. Folk songs are mostly sung in the form of solo singing. In customary song festivals, the form of antiphonal singing is very common. The rhythm of folk songs is relatively loose and free, and the changes in strong and weak accents often have no fixed rules, showing a preference for loose and uneven rhythms, and a combination of equal and uneven rhythms.
Generally speaking, the range of folk songs in plateau areas is wider, and they often use large intervals. In the melodies of Hua'er, Xintianyou, mountain songs, and mountain climbing tunes, not only do the ranges mostly exceed ninth and tenth degrees, They even often use long jump intervals above the octave, and the melody line has ups and downs, giving it the momentum and beauty of "flying down three thousand feet". The rhythm is very free.
In comparison, the range of folk songs in plain areas is often only five or six degrees, and generally does not exceed the octave. The melody mostly adopts a smooth progression, and the use of interval jumps is less, especially It is less common to jump into intervals beyond a fifth. The rhythm is relatively regular and well-proportioned. This makes plain folk songs, especially those in the Jiangnan area, relatively beautiful and bright, revealing the charm of the water town. However, because folk songs are often sung in a higher register, even Jiangnan folk songs have a distinct musical character of high pitch and stretch.
The tonal characteristics of Tian Yangge are mostly the same as those of ordinary folk songs, which are high-pitched, long, and open. The singing of field rice comes one after another, continuously. The tone of some field Yangko shows the style of a minor key, which is euphemistic, tortuous, and soft and lyrical. The rhythm is more standardized and rigorous. Such as "Uprooting Luchai Flowers" from Jiangdu, Jiangsu Province.
The tone of herding folk songs has the main characteristics of ordinary folk songs. The melody is long and stretched, the rhythm is loose and loose, and the character is cheerful and enthusiastic. Compared with ordinary folk songs, it seems to lack some high pitch and intensity, but adds a lot of peace and simplicity. This is of course due to the background of grazing and the environmental impact of prairie pastures.
Most of the fishermen’s songs have a moderate range, preferring to use progressive intervals and rarely jump into intervals. The tone is relatively calm and stretched, graceful and graceful, with a mellow, gentle and reserved and introverted musical character. Fishermen's songs often use both free and soothing rhythms and balanced and regular rhythms. If you sing with the waves, the tone will be warm, lively and elastic.