Chinese Dulcimer Or Yangqin In Question And Setup

[infinity327]

Greetings Everyone ~

I have been very interested in the hammered dulcimer. In particular the Chinese dulcimer or yangqin versions/types, and just recently I was able to get a fantastic deal on a older one not to long ago.

It arrived safely and has a nice mother of pearl inlay on both sides. It is somewhat of a older version and I am unsure if it was made and meant to be a Chinese version dulcimer or a older yangqin as the moveable chessmen pieces (I hope that is the right labeling of the pieces). I think all the newer yangqin models are larger and have fixed 3 bridges?

If anyone might know I would like to find out by the configuration and layout what type is it, dulcimer/yanqin, and such as 14/13, 16/15 (sizing? and what that means)?

The strings look to be in good or fair condition and any info to where one can purchase strings, or piano wire or the best way to go with that, if not now then down the road a little?

Then if able how to set it up (of the chessmen pieces) and the tuning, and if there are different tuning types that one can pick?

I will try to post a few pictures here as well.

Thank you so much for all your helpful information and insights.

[dawei]

That's a nice older style instrument. I can't see the label, who made it and where?

[infinity327]

It says Skylark Brand and Made By The People's Republic Of China.

It is in great condition and I hope to be able to get it tuned and working to best it can be, but I have yet to hear from anyone (on the few different forums that I have joined).

[dawei]

Jul 24, 2017 16:44:32 GMT infinity327 said:

It says Skylark Brand and Made By The People's Republic Of China.

It is in great condition and I hope to be able to get it tuned and working to best it can be, but I have yet to hear from anyone (on the few different forums that I have joined).

I think it's because you have a 10 bridge yangqin. And they are 'chess piece" individual bridges- which is a good thing in away...more later after you choose the tuning. 

It's not the 402 or whatever model that is the current Beijing/Shanghai conservatory musicians' fave.

What you have would work well for old-school music from the Jiangnan Sizhu or Guangdong Yinyue traditions - and maybe more stuff too - but it is NOT the current Shanghai/Beijing conservatory model. It's not a "butterfly" model yangqin - but it is very close and could be tuned like one.

Which to me is a good thing, as long as you are not trying out for a position in a modern Chinese "traditional" orchestra.

So what sort of music do you want to play? That will determine the tuning.

easonmusicstore.com/products/Beijing-402-Yangqin-%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC402%E6%89%AC%E7%90%B4/259

this is the link w/Eason about the 420 Yangqin. What they refer to as "BEIJING 402 YANGQIN 北京402扬琴"

Be well, David

[infinity327]

dawei Thank you very much for your information an help, and sorry about my late reply back.

There is not any certain music piece or type that I had in mind as I had not got that far with the idea yet, but I thought if I could get
it setup based on a simi-chromatic or pentatonic scale then that would be great if possible.

I will also reach out to the easonmusicstore and a few other store sites like that as well.

Thanks again and I will keep this post updated when I have more information.

[dawei]

Aug 14, 2017 15:33:34 GMT infinity327 said:

dawei Thank you very much for your information an help, and sorry about my late reply back.

There is not any certain music piece or type that I had in mind as I had not got that far with the idea yet, but I thought if I could get
it setup based on a semi-chromatic or pentatonic scale then that would be great if possible.

That should be no problem, the basic tuning would include a few related major scales and all their sub-modes, which is where the various "pentatonic" scales come from....although honestly most Chinese music uses the other notes too, so the scales really are 7 note scales.

Enjoy playing!