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Whether you are wondering how to play guzheng as a complete beginner or looking for step-by-step guides on how to tune the guzheng, you will find the answers right here. Dive into our articles for expert tips, tutorials, and everything else you need to master this beautiful instrument.
Buying Your First Guzheng
Buy A Beginners Guzheng – 5 Great Options For The Total Beginner If you are thinking about starting to play the Guzheng but are unsure about how to buy a beginners Guzheng – this blog post is for you. We have many Guzhengs specifically for beginners on our site. Although we think these 5 models are very good in particular. Su Yu Brand – Models “Orchid” and “Seeking Fragrance” The Su Yu brand is a newer brand based in Henan Province in China. Both of these models are full sized... Read more...
The 4 Points Technique
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... Read more...
Basic Guzheng Plucking Technique
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... Read more...
Playing Chords On The Guzheng
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 your Guzheng playing. 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, play Do (D string) and Mi (F# string), then add a lower Mi. Those notes are a chord. If you need to review the... Read more...
Where To Pluck A String On The Guzheng
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... Read more...
Proper Guzheng Posture
Guzheng Posture : Sitting Position And Hand Shape If you want 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. Selecting A Stool You will need a stool similar to this one, ideally about 16-18 inches high. If it’s adjustable to find your personal height more effectively. You can find this one on Amazon Sitting Position Next position yourself... Read more...
Learn The Guzheng String Names
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 used is the D Major Pentatonic Scale. This scale contains the notes D E F# A B. Typically, Guzheng players associate these tones with their Solfege names. D is Do , E is Re, F# is Mi, A is Sol... Read more...
Learn The Parts Of The Guzheng
Learn The Parts Of The Guzheng What is a Guzheng? The Guzheng, a 21-stringed traditional Chinese musical instrument 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: Lets learn the parts of The Guzheng Head- This area contains the compartment where the tuning pegs are. Tail- This is the portion is the furthest away from the performer and is the main... Read more...
How To Put On Guzheng Picks
How To Put On Guzheng Picks: A Step-by-Step Guide To play the Guzheng you will need to wear finger picks. Some players wear 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 (fingerpicks) are made of many different materials. Typically synthetic material such as plastic... Read more...
How To Tune The Guzheng
How to Tune a Guzheng: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide There are 2 ways to tune a Guzheng. The first way involves adjusting the tension of the strings with a tuning wrench, which changes the pitch.  The second involves moving the bridges to fine tune the string. Here are general steps for tuning a Guzheng: Understand The Tuning of The Guzheng The Guzheng has movable bridges, and each string is traditionally tuned to a specific note. The standard tuning for a 21-string Guzheng is the D major Pentatonic scale. The notes... Read more...