Post by upstreamsalmon on Feb 23, 2014 19:27:53 GMT
So, I'm very interested in learning to play Chinese music. I can't decide whether to go guqin or quzheng.
I've already read other postings on this topic. The consensus seems to be to go with the guzheng for the following reasons:
1) It is more popular, and therefore easier to find good instruments and instruction
2) The technique is easier
Here's my background, which may have a bearing:
I already play a number of instruments. I am a competent guitarist and bass guitarist. I have also spent some time with the harp (celtic harp, specifically.) After watching a lot of videos of both instruments, my sense is that the guqin would be more comfortable to me personally. Why? The function of the left & right hands is closer to how they work on a guitar, whereas the guzheng seems more like a piano or a harp, which I find to be considerably more difficult. I was messing around with my electric bass today, and was able to get quqin-like effects with it. (Obviously not the real thing!) by - using harmonics, articulating with slides, lots of vibrato, and sticking with a pentatonic scale.
At the moment the reflective, private nature of guqin "culture" is also very fascinating! I perform in public on a number of instruments, and this would be dedicated more to meditative reflection at home. I'm a world history teacher, and the scholarly associations of the qin are also very appealing.
So at the moment I am leaning toward the qin. Are there other issues to be aware of? Am I smoking crack for even considering this?
I've already read other postings on this topic. The consensus seems to be to go with the guzheng for the following reasons:
1) It is more popular, and therefore easier to find good instruments and instruction
2) The technique is easier
Here's my background, which may have a bearing:
I already play a number of instruments. I am a competent guitarist and bass guitarist. I have also spent some time with the harp (celtic harp, specifically.) After watching a lot of videos of both instruments, my sense is that the guqin would be more comfortable to me personally. Why? The function of the left & right hands is closer to how they work on a guitar, whereas the guzheng seems more like a piano or a harp, which I find to be considerably more difficult. I was messing around with my electric bass today, and was able to get quqin-like effects with it. (Obviously not the real thing!) by - using harmonics, articulating with slides, lots of vibrato, and sticking with a pentatonic scale.
At the moment the reflective, private nature of guqin "culture" is also very fascinating! I perform in public on a number of instruments, and this would be dedicated more to meditative reflection at home. I'm a world history teacher, and the scholarly associations of the qin are also very appealing.
So at the moment I am leaning toward the qin. Are there other issues to be aware of? Am I smoking crack for even considering this?
