Chaozhou songs have "irregular beats, and alternate between hard and soft taps on the strings. Ever since, the Chinese string instrument has been used to depict and imitate sounds of dramatic countrysides, thunderstorms, horse hooves, and rapid water streams. The guzheng has been used in rock music by Chinese performer Wang Yong of Cui Jian, the English musician Jakko Jakszyk (on the 2011 Jakszyk, Fripp & Collins album A Scarcity of Miracles), J.B. Brubaker of August Burns Red on "Creative Captivity" from the 2013 album Rescue & Restore, and the virtual band Gorillaz on "Hong Kong" (from the 2005 Help! Nearly almost all qin books and tablature collections published prior to the twentieth century state this as the factual origins of the qin, although this is now presently viewed as mythology. The string element then shifted to metal, and now, most musicians use steel strings flat wound with nylon. Guzheng … Guqin its size is shorter than guzheng. It’s come to be known as the perfect balance between a harp and zither. The instrument has raised bridges like a guzheng but its body is shaped like a guqin. Chaozhou songs use multiple scales, using both "flat" notes or both "natural" notes. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as highlighted by the quote "a gentleman does not part with his qin or se without good reason," [1] as well as being associated with the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius . What is the difference between Guzheng vs Guqin? The Cao family of Henan are known as masters of the guzheng. The guzheng is ancestral to several other Asian zithers such as the Japanese koto,[1][2][3] the Korean gayageum and ajaeng,[2][3] Mongolian yatga,[3] the Vietnamese đàn tranh,[2][3] the Sundanese kacapi and the Kazakhstan jetigen. This legend states that the legendary figures of China's pre-history — Fuxi, Shennong and Huang Di, the " Yellow Emperor" — were involved in its creation. Liang Tsai-Ping is considered one of the 20th century’s most important players for his editing of the first manual, Music of the Cheng. Traditionally, playing included using only the right hand to pluck notes while the left hand added ornamentation like pitch slides and vibrato, using the strings located on the left of the mobile bridges. The sound is that of a guzheng.[19]. Techniques can also vary in Northern and Southern China, producing different sounds and styles. Guqins are much smaller in size also. * It is sometimes confused with the guzheng () which is a different stringed instrument. During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) the strings transitioned to bare wire such as brass. The possibilities are endless as long as you take into account how decoration could affect the sound. It’s now one of my favorite Chinese string instruments, due to its ability to be played as a solo or accompanying voice, as well as its versatility in sound, many resembling aspects of nature. Well mostly because of the strings. In terms of techniques, guqin concentrates the techniques more on the left hand as opposed to guzheng which focuses heavily on the right hand. Guqin (chinesisch 古琴, Pinyin ... Zithern durch das Fehlen der unter die Saiten geschobenen Stege wie bei der vietnamesischen tranh oder der chinesischen guzheng. Guzheng Guzheng – Chinese zither. Other guzheng techniques include harmonics (Fanyin) where one plucks a string while tapping it at the same time, producing a note in a higher octave. Cổ cầm ([kùtɕʰǐn] (); tiếng Trung: 古琴; bính âm: gǔqín) là một loại nhạc cụ Trung Quốc thuộc bộ dây dạng gảy gồm có 7 dây. In examining the organological development of the guqin and guzheng similarities are drawn with the zithers found in neighbouring countries. It's a zither similar to GuZheng, but since GuQin does not have bridges, it is far more versatile in terms of tones and playing techniques, it is also much harder to master. This musical instrument is very popular in China today and many young girls like to play it. Compared to the koto which has less resonance and the notes decay much quicker. Even more present-day techniques include playing harmony with the left hand. The sounds are smooth and melodious; they drift down your spine like tiny water droplets. Sie besteht aus Saiten, die mit Hilfe von Fingerplektren gezupft werden, einem Klangkörper aus Holz und beweglichen Stegen. [4] The guzheng became prominent during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC). It has a large, resonant soundboard made from Paulownia wood. Mandopop singer-songwriter and music producer Lay Zhang is known for using traditional Chinese instruments such as the guzheng. Guqin – The Ancient Zither, was the musical instrument of the scholarly class before the times of Confucius. [10][17], Notable 20th-century players and teachers include Wang Xunzhi (王巽之, 1899–1972), who popularized the Wulin zheng school based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang; Lou Shuhua, who rearranged a traditional guzheng piece and named it Yu Zhou Chang Wan; Liang Tsai-Ping (1911–2000), who edited the first guzheng manual (Nizheng Pu) in 1938; Cao Dongfu (1898–1970), from Henan; Gao Zicheng (born 1918) and Zhao Yuzhai (born 1924), both from Shandong; Su Wenxian (1907–1971); Guo Ying (born 1914) and Lin Maogen (born 1929), both from Chaozhou; the Hakka Luo Jiuxiang (1902–1978) and Cao Guifen and Cao Zheng (曹正, 1920–1998), both of whom trained in the Henan school. Each string is the same, and each is tensioned about the same before the bridges are used. Guzheng players often wear fingerpicks made from materials such as plastic, resin, tortoiseshell, or ivory on one or both hands. [6], There are varied accounts for how the guzheng came to be. [5] The guzheng is played throughout all of China with a variety of different techniques, depending on the region of China and the time period. From numerous bands to short stints working in music shops, read more about me on the 'Here's My Story' page! [9] Most modern players use plectra that are attached to up to four fingers on each hand. The guzheng should not be confused with the guqin, a Chinese zither with 7 strings played without moveable bridges. By the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) the guzheng may have been the most commonly played instrument in China. Before 1961, the guzheng had only 18 strings. It’s also much harder to learn and master compared to the guzheng. Koto = 13 strings, teflon strings, sounds more 'clicky' more. However, it becomes more diffucult when progressing from intermediate to advanced levels. Songs from Shandong include "High Mountain and Flowing Water [Shandong Version]" (Gao Shan Liu Shui) and "Autumn Moon Over the Han Palace" (Han Gong Qiu Yue). It’s often decorated to suit the likeness of the user. How To Throat Sing: A Comprehensive Guide, Choosing the Best Way to Learn Guitar in 2021 (In-Depth Guide), Guitar Notes For Beginners: Everything You Need To Know, Can Anyone Learn to Sing? Higher notes have dots at the top of the number while lower notes have dots designated at the bottom. Currency - All prices are in AUD Currency - All prices are in AUD Guzheng strings are of various thickness and tension, range a little over 4 octaves, and are made of metal. One iconic sound is a tremolo produced by the right thumb rotating rapidly around the same note. Despite the differences in strings, the guqin produces the same range of sounds. In Lun, all five fingers pluck on a string to produce a tremolo sound similar to the Pipa.[11]. [7] Some believe the guzheng was originally developed as a bamboo-tube zither as recorded in the Shuowen Jiezi, which was later redesigned and made from larger curved wooden boards and movable bridges. I've been surrounded by music from a young age and want to share my passion for it with you. Koto strings are traditionally silk, but today a kind of plastic (Tetron) is used. It is featured in the 1980 pop hit, "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime", by the Korgis. [9][10], Traditional playing styles use the right hand to pluck notes and the left hand to add ornamentation such as pitch slides and vibrato by pressing the strings to the left of the movable bridges. Decorations range from carved art, paintings, shiny finishes, straw, pearl inlays and gemstones, and poetry and calligraphy. Guqin, however, is a whole new ball game. Other notable players during this era include Cao Dongfu, Gao Zicheng, Zhao Yuzhai, Su Wenxian, Guo Ying, Lin Maogen, and Hakka Luo Jiuxiang. It can be referred to as ''qin'' after ''guqin is used in the first instance. Interestingly, the sheet music used to play the guzheng depicts numbers rather than notes. [14], Many pieces composed since the 1950s use new techniques and also mix elements from both northern and southern styles, ultimately creating a new modern school. Wang Yong, a Chinese rock music performer, and Jakko Jakszyk, the lead singer for King Crimson, both use the instrument in their musical performances. GuQin is among the few most distinctive and representative classical Chinese instruments ever. They range from $60 … A quick comparison of the major Kontakt guzheng virtual instruments: Impact Soundworks, WavesFactory, Soniccoutoure, and Evolution Series. Southern songs include "Jackdaw Plays with Water" (Han Ya Xi Shui) from Chaozhou and "Lotus Emerging from Water" (Chu Shui Lian) from the Hakka School. There are many techniques used to strike notes. For the Chinese Catholic priest, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guzheng&oldid=1009798169, Articles needing additional references from February 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2017, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz instrument identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 March 2021, at 10:10. We work closely with the instrument makers to best fulfill your need. Artists create unique cultural and artistic content on the instrument. Bei ihr wird der Ton wie bei einem Lauteninstrument mit den Fingern abgegriffen, wobei die Bünde durch Griffmarken ersetzt sind. Koto strings are approximately the same thickness and tension, range a little over 2 octaves, and were traditionally made of silk, but today plastic. The modern guzheng commonly has 21, 25 or 26 strings, is 64 inches (1.6 m) long, and is tuned in a major pentatonic scale. Songs from Henan include "High Mountain and Flowing Water [Henan Version]" and "Going Upstairs" (Shang Lou). The guzheng is ancestral to several other Asian zithers such as the Japanese koto, the Korean gayageum and ajaeng, Mongolian yatga, the Vietnamese đàn tranh, the Sundanese kacapi and the Kazakhstan jetigen. Northern styles include songs from the Shandong and Henan regional schools. The main difference between a guzheng and guqin is the number of strings. Guzheng = more strings (21-27), metal nylon strings, more bright sound (almost harp like), wooden bridges, strings are different lengths, etc. The guzheng has a large, deep cavity made of wu tong wood while the rest of the instrument is made of other woods. You can also play the left side, the guzheng’s pentatonic scale. Meng’s invention was most likely influenced by the se, another ancient Chinese plucked zither. Not only was the left hand freed to do both plucking and pressing actions, swaying and sweeping movements were established to enhance the sound. The instrument actually gained prominence when a guzheng-like instrument is said to have been invented by Meng Tian, a member of the Qin dynasty. Other musicians playing in non-traditional styles include Wu Fei, Xu Fengxia, Randy Raine-Reusch, Mohamed Faizal b. Mohamed Salim, Mei Han, Bei Bei He, Zi Lan Liao, Levi Chen, Andreas Vollenweider, Jaron Lanier, Mike Hovancsek, Chih-Lin Chou, Liu Le and David Sait. What is the difference between Guzheng vs Koto? For example, "Ming Mountain" (Ming Shan) and "Gloomy Fragrance" (An Xiang) are contemporary songs that do not use the traditional pentatonic scale. Southern styles include Chaozhou and Kejia (Hakka) regional styles. First introduced in the 1970s these multi-material strings increased the instrument's volume while maintaining an acceptable timbre. Although the guzheng was predominantly played by Chinese heritage, Lou Harrison, an American composer also put his name into the ring. Nowadays, these two playing styles are often combined, achieving a more modern-like sound. Despite the differences in strings, the guqin produces the same range of sounds. Strings were once made of silk. Famous songs from Zhejiang include "The General's Command" (Jiang Jun Ling). Gaining popularity even faster than the guqin is its more populist cousin, the 21-string — the number of strings can range from 18 to 26 — zither known as the guzheng. The guzheng has gone through many changes during its long history. Although the instrument may not be widely known, the guzheng is used in renowned films like My Fair Princess and music hits like “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” following every chorus.