How to Tune a Guzheng 古筝调音

Tuning a Guzheng:

1. Put the bridges in order 1-21
将码子按照1-21顺序排列好

2. Tighten the strings til you can barely raise it
将弦上紧. 上紧到需要用点力提起弦才能把码子放到弦下的程度

3. Put the bridges on accordingly to the recommend distance
将码子按照厂家建议的位置安放好

4. Tune each string to correct pitch using a chromatic tuner
用调音器调音

Adjust the pitch by tighten/loosen the string or move the bridge left/right.

To get a higher pitch, tighten the string or move the bridge to the right

To get a lower pitch, loosen the string or move the bridge to the left
音太低的话可以用扳手将弦轴转紧,略低的话可以将码子往右边挪.音太高的话用扳手将弦轴放松,略高的话可以将码子往左边挪.


5. Stretch the strings by bend the strings. (one side at a time. never bend both sides together)
调完音后可以在弦两边按压帮助弦伸展适应新的张力(一次按一边,不能同时按2边).

6. Re-tune the strings
伸展完后重新调一次音

7. Check the scale
试音阶

To view a selection of guzheng models at Sound of China, please visit:
http://www.chinesezither.net/guzheng.html

If you have questions or will like further discussion, please visit the guzheng tuning topic under Chiensezither.net forum:

http://www.chinesezither.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=601

If you need a tuning chart refererence, please see:
http://www.chinesezither.net/files/DTuningTable.JPG

Instruction on how to use the tuner:
http://chinesezither.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=601

Category:

Music

Tags:

• guzheng
• gu
• zheng
• 古筝，古箏

[shirofie]

hi,my tuner is not like yours that will say D4 or something. So i cannot really use my tuner to tune. may i know the accurate way of tunning a guzheng without a tuner? since guzheng is 五声音阶, my teacher say we cannot follow the tuner except for 5. Beside hearing the lower same note to tune, i heard before of tuning by listening to both the sound of example: 1 and 5, 3 and 1, 2 and 6 . another way of tunning is by starting with 5 and tune accordingly. may i know what is your opinion? thanks! =)

[yukinachang]

@shirofie

well, I think you need to have a reference pitch first. e.g. A440 to tune string #8 sol. Then if you have good ears, you can go from there to tune other strings. If you don't have a reference, you might be complete off a few keys, the string tension will not be in it's best condition to play.

[TeddyGNOP]

I'd be incredibly afraid of putting the last few bridges in with the strings tight. I'm not sure if you've answered this question yet, but what are the strings generally tuned to? Is it a chromatic scale, or is there a specific scale, or something?

[yukinachang]

@TeddyGNOP

Please refer to the forum link at the description for the specific pitch to tune to.

We tune in D major pentatonic scale.

[galaxysx]

hi carol,

I already tuned my gu zheng before i get a chance to see this video.

On step 2, what if I loose the string first, and put in the bridge and tighten the string afterward, what difference does that makes??

And on step 5, what happen if i bend both sides together??

Because that is what i did. So i guess i have to start from the beginning again?

[yukinachang]

@galaxysx

I prefer tighten the strings first, so the bridges don't move around. But it doesn't matter as long as the guzheng is in tune. You don't have to start from the beginning.

If you bend both sides together, it's possible that the string breaks right away.

[loadedmore]

you make a very difficult operation

seem so simple

[shirofie]

@yukinachang kay thanks you!

[librielle]

Les plus jolies choses prennent du temps, vos mains ressemblent à celles d'une tisseuse, à la différence que vous êtes une tisseuse de notes de musique, de rythme et de temps.

Merci pour le partage de ce moment si important et si précieux, : ) .

Cet instrument ressemble corde pour corde à la vie. J' attends maintenant d'entendre votre coeur qui bat et votre musique intérieure. Meric : )