Standards of the Guqin 英語琴統初階 - How to Tune the Instrument 調絃法

A video as part of the "Standards of the Guqin" Project. This section explains how the guqin is correctly tuned to standard tuning (Zhengdiao), by harmonic tuning method.
Details on the project at torguqin.wordpr...
Video edited by afterburner777.

[@theyazzledazzle]

I just bought your textbook and am I super excited to get started once my guqin arrives. I am super glad for your explanation, thank you so much!

[@fouellet1701]

For us Westerners it's a pentatonic scale :-) What we hear at the end of the video is A1 B1 C#2 E2 F#2 A2 B2

[@ShiceSquad]

Awesome, you just unwittingly helped me in me in my madcap plan to imitate guqin on electric guitar.

[@jts1702a]

If you really want to get to the nitty-gritty, please watch my talk video taken in Goldsmiths about the 9-stringed qin.

[@ShiceSquad]

@@jts1702a SWEET that's just the kind of thing I'm looking for. Already set about retuning my 8-string guitar in something approximating guqin format - my first baby step towards the guqin guitar goal!

[@Tralfaz2007]

Very interesting. But this seems more complicated than it needs to be. I am not (yet) a qin player but if we think of this like we think of a guitar, it seems like the best way would be to tune each string using an outside standard and then use the harmonic sets to check the tunings. The problem with harmonic tuning is that if your first string is "out" then the whole instrument will be "out". But I guess that's only important for accompanied playing.

[@squirrelmaster89]

You can also tune either the 4th string or 7th string first and use a similar method to tune the other strings. The first string on my silk string guqin is a slightly flat modern B (which is 62 Hz). You can, indeed, just "make up an A", which is why all tunings throughout time have varied slightly or greatly.

[@johnnosharpe]

This has seriously done my head in .... I love it !!!

[@jts1702a]

There is only so much you can fit in 10 mins XD If you are talking about plucking a pair of strings, it should ALWAYS be a tiao/gou or any mix of out/inward movement(s) suited to the number of sounds (e.g. Li/gou if plucking for 7,6,5) I digress. This video demonstrates harmonic tuning. However, I noticed that some of my new students can't determine pitch, so I may have to post another vid on sliding tuning. THAT one may be more complicated for the head...or not, depending.

[@chriss4959]

Just bought ur book, let us know if u have more content available or coming soon

[@ds7788]

its just like tuning the guitar with harmonics. I usually compared the tuning in harmonics, in open strings and strike a note with an open string. its about listening to ensure the note played in unision produce stronger sound. if the two notes played in different octave is not in same frequency, both notes will have a dampening effect on each other. If all these various method of tuning doeant complement each other, it denotes the quality of the instrument made.

[@jts1702a]

OK, I'll try to be clear and concise: - Since you already unwrapped them from the goose feet, gently tug it so that it's like it's back on, and then loosen the tuning pegs on the right side as much as possible. - The fly knot should be right on the edge of the bridge or a little beyond. If it's still too far back, you need to pull on the knot in the tuning peg to slip the cord forwards or backwards. - Then restring by pulling the string and wind them on the feet.

[@jts1702a]

In order to match with another instrument, one usually tunes one note (usually A, 5th string) with another instrument, and then tune by itself using Pythagorean and Just intonations methods (this vid).

[@RickNBacker]

Did I hear you right? Tuning the instrument at A440 on the 5th string is too high tension? I just got my guqin and don't want to mess anything up. I actually have it turned to A432 but should the entire instrument be tuned down one whole tone, i.e. the 5th string tuned to G instead of A?

[@jts1702a]

Depends on your strings. If you have silk strings, it wouldn't make sense to force a A440. Most would go down one or two semitones - but if you've got a modern setup with modern strings, go nuts. Ultimately, it's all relative until you have to play in an ensemble...

[@jts1702a]

@Glen1064 Bah. Not enough space. If you feel that you can juice higher frequencies out of your instrument, but already exhausted your tuning peg's tension (can't twist more), try restringing them by the goose feet with even more tension. However, even if you can get your 5th string on A440, I don't recommend doing all seven strings with the tuner, because its hardwired temperament (how we determine all our 12 tones) doesn't work well with our system.

[@CherryMxTx]

Finally, I know how to pronounce guqin.

[@kimberlygoodwin8500]

Can someone tell me what are the tassels for? Decorations or some deeper meaning?

[@jts1702a]

Jason; If you just got it in the mail from eBay, I suggest you restring them all first. That I'd need to upload another vid. After all the strings are restrung and are within 5 pitches from the intended note, you loosen and tighten using the tuning pegs on the right, like how it's taught here. But before that, you'd need to repull your strings.

[@jts1702a]

Tuning with a tuner has its problems: The guqin produces a secondary harmonic when an open string is plucked, which sets the tuner jumping all over; and even if the harmonic can be filtered by some tuners, the instrument is not tuned by the 12-tET system, which flattens all sounds from the base note (usually C) and will result in unmatching harmonic sounds when playing them.

[@pjet8042]

If A440 is too high a tension to start with the A string, what would be a safe relative tone to set it at? Half-step lower? Full step lower?

[@jts1702a]

Whatever your instrument or string is comfortable at. As long as you get all the strings to agree on each other without being too tight or too loose. This should not be an issue if you're not playing with another instrument.

[@jts1702a]

@Glen1064 I'm trying to explain to AVOID doing that. Traditionally qins do not go A440 (too high), and as digital tuners are 12-tET you will experience problems when playing harmonics at higher pitch (qins are Pyth. Just Intonation temperament-based). Not to mention tuning open string sounds produce secondary freqs and are inaccurate/makes the tuner jump. If you must use a tuner, just tune one string with it: you'll need to transpose down in your head, though.

[@jts1702a]

If only the world was this small. No, my name is Juni, and I do not sell guqins via eBay. I only sell to those who visit me in person.

[@joyce1343]

Thank you so much I tried to find this information on the web and it didn't help. Also any tips for how to keep your pegs from slipping I was thinking of using rosin like I do with my violin

[@The25Sister]

I have your book :).

[@Death_User666]

thank you sir can we have more vids

[@zyonero]

sorry but someone knows ... what kind of strings the guqin uses ??? i wanna buy one but i don't know to much about it ... u just love the sound ...

[@draketran1173]

Qin has two strings type. One is a silk string, the other is steel string wrapped in nylon. I hope this help.(1 year late)

[@Tralfaz2007]

(continued) Also, it seems like it would be easier to tune open strings than held notes. But then again, I've never even touched a gu qin. I'm very interested in your book. Could you post the ISBN? Thanks!

[@asherasator]

Its over explained, you're tuning by harmonics. An average person listening to this especially if they don't have experience with stringed or fretted instruments will get confused.

[@The-Contractor]

Your hands are moving to the opposite set shown on screen. You say 4 and 5 while your hands move to 7 and 10. Wtf? Get it right or take this down as confusing is not the least bit helpful;.