New Guqin

[lightningduck]

I recently (yesterday) got a guqin.  I think it's just a beginner model because I got it cheap on AliExpress and the tuning pegs are finicky as hell.

Anyway, I'm not sure how to approach playing it, as far as what string/position. to use for a given note. I'm used to my bass guitar and sanxian where each string is a fourth above the string before it, so I sorta understand how scales and intervals work between strings. This instrument is tuned to a pentatonic scale (C D F G A C D )so it has been a bit uncertain.

For example, I have a number notation sheet written as:

(G)
| 3 2 3 6 3 2 3 7   |3 2 3 1.  7 5| 3 2 3 6 3 2 3 7 |  5     |

(this is the opening line of "Big Fish and Begonia )

How do I choose how to play this?  I mean, I could play it all on the G string just sliding up and down, but I really don't think that's how it's played

Any suggestions or recommendations where to start or how to approach this

科协你们

[edcat7]

I don't play the guqin but would looking at guzheng videos on YT help? I've found music teachers: erhu, dizi, guzheng on various on-line teaching sites. Try superprof, italki and amazing talker.

[lightningduck]

It's not really played like a guzheng. As far as I know with a guzheng, each string is a set pitch that you pluck, with either hand (I guess similar to a harp, in a way), the left hand can also add some vibrato by depressing a plucked string on the left side of the bridges.

It's more like a western slide guitar, or any such, where you do pluck with your right hand (and you can pluck open strings of course). However, the left hand can press on the string in certain positions to change the pitch.

On the bass and the sanxian, each string is tuned neutrally in fourths, and it's still a judgment call if you need to move a major 3rd interval or some such, but it's usually pretty obvious (and I've been doing it +30 years). On the Guqin, each string is related to the next in the pentatonic scale, so it's not as obvious to me how to make that judgment as to whether I play G 5th position or A 4th position for a D as they are so close

There are guqin tutorials on YouTybe on what to do (physically) and how to play, I was just curious to see if I could get feedback from players on WHY to do certain things

The answer, though, could be the same as I would use on the other instruments....use your judgement and do what you need

Thank you