Blog - The Guzheng Shop

April 19, 2024April 19, 2024

Buy A Beginners Guzheng – 5 Great Options For The Total Beginner

If you are thinking about starting to play the Guzheng and are unsure about how to buy a beginners Guzheng – this blog post is for you. We have many great Guzhengs for the beginner to offer on our site but we think these 5 models are very good in particular.

Su Yu Brand – Models “Orchid” and “Seeking Fragrance” – $678

The Su Yu brand is a newer brand based in Henan Province in China. Both of these models are full sized and have the same sound characteristics- bright, open, firm and balanced sounding. The only difference is the decoration, choose your favorite!

These models were hand picked by our owner Bei Bei at the 2023 Shanghai Music Expo specifically for their value and cost for the beginner.

“Seeking Fragrance”

“Orchid”

Su Yu “Brand”Orchid” and “Seeking Fragrance” Sound Demonstration-

Su Yu “Orchid” Sound Demonstration

Tang-Xiang “Peaceful Pavillion” – $688

The Tang-Xiang brand is one of the major Guzheng makers in China, they are based out of Henan province.

This full sized model has been a favorite ever since we started carrying it – it has a 5 star review on our site. It produces firm, sweet, mild and balanced sounds. The decoration is a beautiful painted mountain scene with a nearby village.

“Peaceful Pavillion”

Tang-Xiang “Peaceful Pavillion”Sound Demonstration

“Peaceful Pavillion” Sound Example

Langyun “Singing Crane” – $995

Langyun is a major Guzheng brand based in Yangzhou, China. This brand has a good reputation for quality and they have an expansive product line.

Stepping up the quality level is this “Singing Crane”. This is a full sized Guzheng with a beautiful painted moon scenes with cranes flying across. It sounds like a mixture of metallic and sweet, also clear.

Langyun “Singing Crane” Sound Demonstration

“Singing Crane” Sound Example

Hai Tang Guo Yue “Guan Tao” – $1,330

Hai Tang Guo Yue manufactures in Henan, China but some designs like this “Guan Tao” come from Taiwan. This model is beautiful with fabric on the head and tail painted with swirling ocean waves.

This is a travel sized model – it is 53 inches long (135cm) compared to the standard full size Guzheng which is 64 inches (162cm) long. It also has a much thinner body – only 5cm! This is much smaller than most Guzhengs making it light and easy to carry. Its sound is bright and robust, this is a concert level Guzheng.

“Guan Tao” Sound Demonstration

“Guan Tao” Sound Example

Langyun “Pheonix” – $1580

Another great beginners Guzheng from Langyun is this “Pheonix”

This is a great Travel Size option – if space is at a premium. This “Pheonix” model is 51 inches (130 cm) long as compared to the full size of 64 inches (162cm). This model produces sounds warm, sweet, deep, and well resonate.

Langyun “Pheonix” Sound Demonstration

“Pheonix” Sound Example

We hope you have enjoyed this blog post. If you have any questions about buying a beginners Guzheng please feel free to reach out to us!

April 1, 2024April 1, 2024

4 Points Technique – An Important Guzheng Plucking Technique

The 4 Points Technique is a widely used plucking pattern played on the Guzheng. It consists of playing 4 notes with a combination of 3 fingers – middle finger, thumb, index finger, thumb.

If you are new to the Guzheng be sure to check out our previous blog post on Basic Guzheng Plucking Technique.

We Will Start With Our Right Hand

The 4 Points Technique can be played on any string combination, but let’s choose to start on ‘Sol’. Your middle finger would play ‘Sol’, then your thumb would play a “Sol’ one octave up. Your index finger is next and it plays a note that is in-between the 2 Sols we have already played, so it can play ‘Re’ , then the thumb plays the higher ‘Sol’ again.

The pattern of the notes is ‘Sol’ , higher octave ‘Sol’ , ‘Re’ , higher octave ‘Sol’, as shown on this picture. The fingering is middle finger, thumb, index finger, thumb.

You can move this pattern to ‘La’ by shifting the first note and being mindful of the rest of the pattern going up one string.

Once you are familiar with the pattern move it to different registers and be mindful of your plucking technique. Be sure to keep your wrist stable, move only your finger knuckles when playing, and keep your palm open.

Lets Move To The Left Hand

Mastering the fingering on the left hand is very important. The left hand typically plays the lower registers for harmonic and rhythmic support for the right hand higher melody. Take special care to make this technique effortless to provide the best foundation for your playing.

The 4 points technique is a very useful technique as you can use the same fingering to play different combinations of notes

Here we are playing ‘La’ in octaves and ‘Do’

Here we have ‘La’ in octaves and ‘Re’

Experiment and come up with your own variations of notes. Be sure to practice proper plucking technique from the beginning to establish proper habits.

This blog was based on an excerpt from Bei Bei’s Guzheng Tutorial, video is below

March 25, 2024March 26, 2024

Basic Guzheng Plucking Technique – Bei Bei’s Guide

In this blog post we will explore basic Guzheng Plucking technique – we play the Guzheng by plucking the strings with our finger picks. Let’s make some sound!

We will first review the correct hand shape, remember to have your hands in a “C” shape. Or think about how you would hold an apple but with palms facing downward. Keep all your knuckles slightly curved like this:

Lets Start Our Lesson With The Right Hand

When plucking a string have your picks angled on the string at about a 45 degree angle. Single Finger Guzheng Plucking and pluck from your fist knuckle towards your palm. Remember to keep your palm relaxed and your wrist flat. Start by practicing on one finger, perhaps your middle finger, until you understand the mechanics to add more fingers.

The thumb is plucked the same way, at a 45 degree angle and towards the palm. Guzheng plucking with the thumb Resist the urge to curve your wrist – keep it straight.

If you are just starting, focus on each hand’s movements independently before trying to integrate them. The mechanics of plucking on the left hand are no different than that of the right, but care must be taken to shift this hand in different registers. Refer to our blog Where To Pluck On A String for more on that topic.

Combining Different Fingers

Start by practicing with the middle finger and the thumb. These 2 fingers often play in octaves of each other in Guzheng music, so it’s a good place to start. Pick any note, ‘Sol’ (A) for instance and play a lower A with your thumb, and the higher A with your middle finger.

Notice how in the picture the index finer is curved, but relaxed. Isolate the movements by playing one of the ‘A’ notes at a time. Middle finger only, thumb only, both together, etc. Move this exercise through all registers and notes as slight hand adjustments are necessary. Move to you left hand and practice and refine in the same way.

Beginners might hear a noise before a note is plucked – the noise of the pick scraping against the string. This is normal and expected for a beginner and you can come back to solve this problem once you progress in other areas of the instrument. For the more intermediate players wishing to correct this issue you will need to work on not touching the string before you pluck it. This requires more control but if you work on this with the rudiments above your notes will sounds more pure.

Another finger combination is the first finger and the thumb, which plays notes that are close together, like “Sol’ and ‘La’ , or ‘Sol’ and ‘Do’ , even ‘Sol’ and ‘Re’. Your thumb would play the ‘Sol’ notes and first finger would play the lower notes

Once you have worked on the right hand move to the left. Go through the same process of isolating each finger to get the correct movement and technique, and move through different note combinations when practicing.

Here is an excerpt on plucking technique from Bei Bei’s Guzheng Tutorial:

March 11, 2024March 11, 2024

How To Play Chords On The Guzheng – A Guide For Beginners

Playing chords on the Guzheng is a great tool to add depth and richness to songs and to your playing in general.

So what is a chord? A chord is 3 or more notes played together to form a harmony. If you play an interval (2 notes together) then add one more note it becomes a chord. For example , if we play Do (D string) and Mi (F# string), then add a lower Mi (F# string) it becomes a chord. If you need to review the string names we have a blog post on The String Names On The Guzheng

Let’s try the same idea on Re (E string) and La (B string), then we will add another Re on a lower octave.

It is important to make sure all three fingers are playing the strings at the same time. Before you pluck the strings place your fingers on the strings and try and remember what that hand position feels like, so you can come back to it later with the correct hand shape.

To add more richness to the chord we can add another note to make a 4 note chord. Now that we are playing more notes we have to be strategic with our fingerings – play La with the ring finger, Do with the middle finger, Mi with the index finger and the lower La with your thumb.

How To Play Chords On The Guzheng - A Guide For Beginners

Just like with the 3 note chords, be sure to practice playing all 4 notes at the same time. Remember what your hand feels like when you are resting your fingers on the string and practice finding that position until it becomes a habit.

Once you get the hang of the finger position try and move the 3 or 4 note chord up or down a string to practice adjusting your wrist to the changing positions. Concentrate on a smooth attack where all fingers play at the same time.

Now that you have a handle on playing chords with the right hand you can practice playing the same chords but with the left hand. Remember, the left hand plays on the Guzheng almost in the middle of the string area. If you are unfamiliar with this we have a great blog post on Guzheng Playing Area The good news is you can use the same fingerings for left hand as you did for the right hand with the 3 or 4 note chords.

Now that you know how to play chords on the Guzheng there are some specific chords you should know. But for now concentrate on getting the fundamentals down and getting acquainted with playing multiple strings at the same time with a balanced attack.

Here is a video excerpt from Bei Bei’s Guzheng Tutorial on playing chords on the Guzheng

February 22, 2024February 22, 2024

Guzheng Playing Area: Where To Pluck On A String

In this blog post we will talk about Guzheng Playing Area – where to pluck the strings. The plucking area of the Guzheng is between the Yue Mountain and the moveable bridges.

The right hand plucks closest to the Yue Mountain and plucks an area about 1/8 of the string length from the Yue Mountain to the movable bridges. Since the string is longer on the lower sounding registers you will play further from the Mountain when you play on those strings. The higher pitched strings are plucked closer to the Mountain, since they are shorter.

Beginners can have a general rule of right hand plucking about 1 inch away from the mountain, in order to not make things too complicated. You can refine your plucking distances over time as you hear the difference it makes in tone and dynamics.

The left hand plucks almost in the middle of the picking area. This is except for the lower register stings, which are played a little more to the left. A good rule is lining up your left shoulder to find the area of plucking for the bass strings. Your left hand should never be plucking further than your left shoulder line.

Here is an excerpt from Bei Bei’s Guzheng Tutorial on Guzheng playing area

Speaking of plucking, do you have Guzheng Picks And Tape?

February 19, 2024February 19, 2024

Guzheng Posture : Sitting Position And Hand Shape

In order to play the Guzheng effectively you will need to evaluate your posture to better focus your body when playing. This guide and video will serve as a resource you can refer back to to make sure your posture is optimal.

You will need a stool similar to this one Sitting Position Guzheng Posture - you will need a stool about 16-18 inches high

– about 16-18 inches high. Even better if it’s adjustable to find your personal height more effectively. You can find this one on Amazon

Sitting Position

Next position yourself so that your right shoulder is inline with the ‘Yue Mountain’ – the bridge on the head – near the tuning pegs. Please refer to our Parts Of The Guzheng blog post if these terms are unfamiliar.

Line up your belly button with the first movable bridge. The distance between your belly and the instrument should be about 2 closed fists distance – or about 6-8 inches. Keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.

Hand Shape

For our study on Guzheng Posture we will now move on to hand shape. The basic hand shape should be very relaxed, and it looks a little like you are holding an apple towards the ground. A ‘C’ shape is formed by your thumb to index finger

Wrist placement is important on the Guzheng, as it has a curved soundboard. There are 3 basic wrist angles depending on where you are playing on the instrument.

Playing on the bass strings your wrist will be slightly up

If you are playing in the middle range your wrist would be mostly flat

Playing the higher string would have your wrist a little bit lower

Beginners often have trouble the ‘flat’ and ‘up’ wrist angle. Be sure to pay attention and be mindful when using those positions. The wrist is meant to adjust its angle as you play different registers.

Thanks for reading this blog on Guzheng Posture. Take the time to develop correct posture and your Guzheng playing will benefit from it.

Excerpt from Bei Bei’s Guzheng Tutorial –

February 15, 2024February 15, 2024

The Names of The Strings On The Guzheng

The Chinese zither, or Guzheng is tuned to a particular set of notes, called a musical scale. This tuning helps gives the Guzheng its musical character and sound. Let’s learn the names of the strings on the Guzheng. The most common scale it is tuned to is the D Major Pentatonic Scale – Spelled D E F# A B

Guzheng players also associate these tones with their Solfege names – D is Do , E is Re, F# is Mi, A is Sol , B is La.

Here is an excerpt from Bei Bei’s Guzheng Tutorial:

On the Guzheng this pattern of notes – D , E , F# , A , B is repeated over the length of the instrument. It is an important to note that the thinnest string and the thickest string are ‘D’ strings. The instrument starts and ends with ‘D’ strings. To help the eye see this pattern the “A” string is usually another color , mostly green but sometimes red. The "A" strings are usually green, helping you see the notes of the guzheng

It is important to relate the tones of the D Major Pentatonic Scale with the notes of the D Major Scale. The D Major Scale is Spelled D E F# G A B C#. The D major Pentatonic scale omits the 4th and 7th degress of the the D Major Scale.

Now that you have an understanding of the names of the strings on the Guzheng perhaps you would like to continue with your studies? Bei Bei put together this Popular 3 Book Set to guide a total beginner into a well rounded Guzheng player. It is an excellent resource to even experienced players.

February 14, 2024February 14, 2024

Learn The Parts Of The Guzheng

The Guzheng is a 21 -stringed traditional Chinese musical instrument that belongs to the asian long zither family. It is a plucked-string instrument with a vast history dating back over 2,500 years. The Guzheng features a rectangular-shaped soundbox with strings stretched over movable bridges. Here are its main parts:

Head- Contains a compartment where the tuning pegs are housed. This area is typically decorated with various materials that add to the esthetics of the instrument.
Tail- This is the portion is the furthest away from the performer and is the main focal point for decorative elements, which typically match the decor of the head. This is also where the strings come through the bottom of the body across the guzheng and into the tuning pegs.
Soundbox: The body of the Guzheng is usually made of wood, in general paulownia wood is used. The soundbox amplifies the vibrations of the strings, producing sound.
Bridges: The Guzheng typically has movable bridges made of wood or other materials. These bridges support the strings and help to determine the pitch of each note. By adjusting the position of the bridges, the player can fine tune the instrument
Yue Mountain and S bridge: These are the starting and ending points for the strings. The Yue Mountain is the right long bridge. The S bridge is sometimes in an ‘S’ shape (hence the name) this bridge can also be straight instead of ‘S’ curved in certain models.
Strings: The Guzheng generally has 21 strings, although modern versions may have more. The strings are made of steel inside a nylon wrapping. Each string is attached to a tuning peg at one end and passes over the bridges to the other end of the instrument.
Tuning Pegs: The tuning pegs are located at one end of the Guzheng typically inside a little box at the head and are used to adjust the tension of the strings, thereby controlling the pitch of each note. Check out our Blog post on tuning the Guzheng if you are new to it####<—-Link to that page
Resonating Chamber: Inside the soundbox, there may be a resonating chamber that helps to amplify and project the sound produced by the vibrating strings.
Decorative Elements: Many Guzhengs are works of art adorned with Intricate designs- Carvings Paintings and many more varieties on the head and tail and sometimes on the bridges as well. These decorative elements can vary widely. Indeed they often reflect the cultural and artistic traditions of the region where the instrument was made.

Excerpt from Bei Bei’s Guzheng Tutorial –

February 8, 2024February 8, 2024

How To Put On Guzheng Picks: A Step-by-Step Guide

The traditional Chinese instrument Guzheng is played with finger picks attached to the fingers. Some players prefer wearing picks on both hands while others prefer wearing them on the right hand only. Follow your teachers instructions or decide for yourself if you are learning on your own.

To put on Guzheng picks, you’ll only need a few things: Guzheng Picks, Finger Tape, and a pair of scissors.

Select the Picks: Guzheng picks, also known as fingernail picks, are typically made of synthetic material such as plastic or acrylic and organic material such as cow bone and tortoise shell. They come in various sizes to fit different finger sizes, and different thicknesses to produce different sounds. Choose picks that are the right fit, and experiment with different materials and thicknesses to find a sound you like.
Prepare Your Fingernails: Before putting on the Guzheng picks, make sure your fingernails are clean and trimmed to an appropriate length. Long nails may interfere with the fit of the picks and affect your ability to play the instrument effectively.
Cut a Piece of Tape: The picks are held onto your fingers with the tape. Cut a piece of tape that is about 15-20cm (6-8inches) in length. Wrap the tape once along the bottom of the pick. Now we are ready to put the pick on the finger.
Position the Picks: Hold the pick between your thumb and index finger, ensuring that the curved part of the pick is facing downwards. The pointed end of the pick should be positioned towards your fingertip. The picks go on the pad of your finger and should start just above the first knuckle.
Wrap the Tape Around the Pick: Wrap the pick with the tape in a neatly in one line. Be sure to not wrap the tape too tightly, or too loose. It should feel comfortable, and at the same time be tight enough to hold the pick in place. You are almost done putting on Guzheng picks.
Adjust as Needed: Once the pick is in place, adjust its position to ensure it feels comfortable and allows you to play the strings with ease. You may need to experiment with different finger positions and pick angles to find what works best for you.
Repeat for Each Finger: Repeat the process for each finger you plan on wearing picks.
The Thumb Picks Are Set A Little Different: For the right thumb, tape the pick at a 30 degree angle to the left. For the left thumb the pick should be at a 30 degree angle to the right.
Practice: After putting on the picks, spend some time practicing basic techniques and familiarizing yourself with the feel of the picks on your fingers. It may take some time to adjust to playing with picks if you’re not used to them. As you progress in your Guzheng journey you will find small adjustments that make the picks more comfortable and to better suit your hand, so be patient and persistent in your practice.

By following these steps, you can effectively put on Guzheng picks and start playing the instrument with confidence.

February 7, 2024February 7, 2024

How To Tune a Guzheng: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tuning a Guzheng, a traditional Chinese zither, can be achieved 2 ways. The first way involves adjusting the tension of its strings to produce the desired pitches. The second involves moving the bridges to fine tune the string.

Here are general steps for tuning a Guzheng:

Understand the Tuning: The Guzheng has movable bridges, and each string is traditionally associated with a specific note. The standard tuning for a 21-string Guzheng is the D major Pentatonic scale: D, E, F#, A, B. This pattern repeats in order over the entire instrument. There are alternate tunings to achieve different keys and scales but we will be using standard ‘D major’ tuning for this example.

Guzheng Tuning Wrench Inside The Guzheng Soundbox — **To Tune Your Guzheng You Will Need A Tuning Wrench – They Are Included When You Buy Or Rent A Guzheng**

Get a Tuning Wrench: In order to tune the strings of a Guzheng you will need a tuning tool, this is a wrench designed to fit the tuning pegs of each string. These wrenches are always included with the purchase or rental of a Guzheng.

Identify the Strings: Each string on the Guzheng needs to be tuned to a specific pitch. The thickest string is ‘D’ , and it follows the pattern ‘D , E , F# , A , B, D, E, F# , etc’ To help the eye see the 5 string sets the ‘A’ string is usually a different color . Identify the strings, and the ‘A’ string pattern so you know which string you are tuning to which pitch.

Tune from Low to High: Start tuning from the lowest-pitched string and move to the highest. Insert the tuning wrench and turn the tuning pegs clockwise to increase tension (raising the pitch) or counterclockwise to decrease tension (lowering the pitch). On the thinnest strings (highest pitched) be careful and turn the tuning wrench slowly to avoid breaking a string.

Use a Chromatic Tuner: There are smart phone apps that are tuners. Additionally you can buy a small tuner, which can be more accurate. You’ll need the tuner close to the instrument, like on a music stand or something. As you tune the string, you’ll need to continuously pluck the string as you watch the tuner. All tuners have some kind of light or single when you are right on a pitch.

Bend / Stretch The Strings, Check Tuning Again: Once you have tuned all the strings, the next step is to gently bend the strings by pressing down on the string towards the floor. After stretching the strings some may go out of tune again, this is normal and go through all the strings again and tune them to pitch

Adjusting The Bridges: Guzheng Bridges can be moved to fine tune or change tunings Sometimes you will need to fine-tune the pitch of individual strings by moving the bridges slightly. The bridges are moveable and can be adjusted to refine the intonation. Gently lift the string up and slide the bridge to fine tune the string.

Repeat as Needed: Go through the tuning process a few times if necessary.

Now that you know the basics of how to tune a Guzheng, remember that it may take some practice. Also it is important to be patient. If you’re unsure about tuning the instrument yourself, consider seeking help from a more experienced player or a professional instrument technician.