Common Erhu Playing Issues #1 - Inability to slide/shift positions

lol nobody reads my blog but i write these for fun
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Problem: Too sticky/too much friction

Try cleaning the instrument first, using a soft cloth and water. Generally, I do not trust anything that is not water for cleaning my erhu, since certain chemicals may damage the wood or its finish (ex: alcohol wipes). If the surface of the neck is still too sticky, using something like baby powder to dry the area from sweat or sticky substances can help. If the strings are sticky from the rosin, then you could try using something slippery, like lip balm or instrument wood wax. Keep in mind that some strings can rust, so you can apply some anti-rust product like TCM. To prevent the strings from becoming sticky, you can put a cloth or a long piece of paper over the strings before you fold the bow with your erhu.

Problem: Bad technique

When you slide or shift positions, you need to move your entire arm in the process, and at the same time, have the wrist follow through as you move your hand up or down. Also remember that the higher the position of the note, the harder you need to press on the strings. If it's still too hard for you to press on the strings, either keep practicing or use one of those finger exercising tools like GripMaster, or try playing the soprano/gaoyin banhu (very tight strings).

Make sure you ace this because erhu players that are pretty darn good can tell that you are an amateur by looking at your form. The wrist movements of the left and right hands are a good indication of whether a player really knows what he/she is doing. Likewise, whether or not the elbow comes first when pulling/pushing the bow is another weak point in amateur erhu players. (yes is gud)

Take a look at the pictures below.

This is the normal hand posture.
Do not forget that the fingers are pointed downwards.

This is the hand when it shifts.
The wrist follows through first going up
when you are sliding up, and vice versa.