Help with a Dan Tranh?

[millizilla]

I'm 15 years old and can play a few western instruments (still an amateur though). I was hoping someone could easily explain and help me with this Dan Tranh problem that I have. 

I was digging through my grandma's closet and found my great-grandmother's Dan Tranh. It looks and sounds good and isn't in bad shape at all, so my grandma let me keep it. The thing is I have no idea how to really play it. All I really want is to be able to tune it correctly in order for me to play some notes. I've been reading everywhere, but I'm not very good at vietnamese so I can't understand anything. I found some good references for the Guzheng but I've heard they aren't tuned the same (?) To be honest I have no clue what to do at this point, and I was just wondering if someone can help me out with the notes for tuning. (Im not even sure if I made any sense but yea...)

If someone could please help me that would be amazing because I've always wanted to play the Dan Tranh since I was little, but there's no instructor in my area and I didn't know my grandma had one until now. 

Thanks
~ Millena

[davidmdahl]

Welcome to the forum, Millena. I expect that since your dan tranh was your great-grandmother's it likely has 16 strings. Is that true? This will help to know. A newer dan tranh usually has at least 17 strings.

The dan tranh doesn't just have one tuning. It varies with whatever fits the tune. I can advise you on a tuning that will fit what you are likely to use, but I am concerned that you will break strings and not have replacements. There is quite a bit that a teacher needs to show you about tuning, adjusting and replacing strings, and that is before you get to playing.

Vietnamese music teachers are certainly not in every area, and I don't know everyone, but if you can let me know your general location, I will see if I know someone relatively local to refer you to. Feel free to PM me that if you don't want it in the clear.

Best wishes,

David