The Xiaoruan 小阮 is the Chinese Alto Moonguitar - it belongs to the plucked instrument family. Smaller and higher-pitched than the zhongruan, the xiaoruan has a long fretted neck, a round body, and 4 strings. It is usually played using a guitar pick. The xiaoruan produces a bright, clear, and lively tone, adding color and upper-range support to a Chinese ensemble or orchestra. Like other instruments in the ruan family, its raised frets allow the fingers to press the strings without touching the neck, giving the player greater control over timbre, articulation, and intonation.