Instruments: Chinese music often features instruments like the guzheng (a zither), pipa (a lute), and erhu (a two-stringed fiddle), while Japanese music commonly includes instruments like the koto (a zither), shamisen (a three-stringed lute), and taiko (drums).
Scales: Chinese music typically uses pentatonic scales, which consist of five notes per octave, while Japanese music often employs heptatonic scales, which consist of seven notes per octave.
Melody: Chinese melodies tend to be more ornamented and elaborate, while Japanese melodies are often simpler and more straightforward.
Rhythm: Chinese music often has a strong, driving rhythm, while Japanese music can be more varied in rhythm, with frequent use of syncopation.
Harmony: Chinese music traditionally does not use harmony in the Western sense, while Japanese music sometimes incorporates Western-style harmony.
Vocals: Chinese vocals are often characterized by a high, nasal quality, while Japanese vocals are typically more mellow and smooth.
Lyrics: Chinese lyrics often focus on themes of nature, love, and social commentary, while Japanese lyrics can cover a wide range of topics, including personal experience, history, and folklore.
Performance styles: Chinese music is often performed in a seated position, while Japanese music can be performed in a variety of positions, including standing, kneeling, and sitting.
Of course, these are just general trends, and there is a great deal of variation within both Chinese and Japanese music. Additionally, there has been a lot of cross-pollination between the two musical traditions, so it is not always easy to say definitively whether a particular piece of music is Chinese or Japanese.