Reading sheet music for the guzheng

[twilight]

hello everyone!

I'm very glad that is forum is open ;D

I've been playing the Vietnamese dan tranh for several years, and now I'm really interested in the chinese guzheng. I bought some sheet music but it's written differently...in numbers rather than western notes. Can someone PLEASE help me out as to how to read them???

Again, thanks Cardcaptor Charles for this forum. I've been reading the posts from the old CCNforum Everything posted here is so interesting

[Charlie Huang]

Thanks for your appriciation, Twilight-san! ;D

Anyways, the notation of the guzheng (like many other Chinese instruments) is in Chinese 'number notation'. Basically 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 are do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; in the western sense. A dot at the bottom of the number indicates an octave lower, whilst a dot above the number indicates an octave higher. Regardless the actual pitch of each string, each string is assigned a number depending on the mode. You pluck the corresponding string when the notation cites you to. Some of the numbers are underlined. This indicates the speed they are to be played in succession, like the bar joining each note in staff notation (double lined equals much faster). Normally, there will be a small number to the top left of a normal sized number, underlined twice with a bent line attatched, that would indicate to play that note, quickly followed by the main note. The number 0 (I think) indicate a pause, whilst - - - indicates a long note.

Simple really. There of course, maybe other notation marks that are employed especially for the guzheng (like arrows, wobbly lines, other strange marks) that would indicate vibrato or other techniques unique to the guzheng that I may not know of. But that will probably be explained by Vi_an-san or any other guzheng players here.

[blueharp]

Angela Lee has a great intro to playing guzheng in English. It covers the basics really well including those squiggly lines and arrows ;D.

Her website is:

www.ajlee.com

Steve

[twilight]

Domo arigato CCCharlie and Steve!! ;D your explanation is a great help, and I surely will look into that Intro book by A.J. Lee.

I'm getting very excited I live in Houston and there are no guzheng teachers at all. I'm trying to self teach myself the guzheng through my experience with the VNmese dan tranh and through any knowledge that is shared here in the forum

[Bryan]

Urhx, if theres a squiggly line above a not, it means tht u light vibrate the string tht is to the left of the soundboard. if there is an arrow pointing upwards to the right of the number, after u pluck the string, u press the strings to the left of the soundboard and after when u pluck the next string, ur left hand muz rise.