Many Fujian zheng songs borrow from Hakka and Chaozhou styles of zheng. Representative Zhejiang Zheng Songs in China: Players usually adopt this style of zheng in composing new zheng songs. Zhejiang zheng requires the players to use two hands to pluck the strings, symbolizing Chinese guzheng players’ embracing western music techniques. Zhejiang zheng features a more powerful sound than other styles of Guzheng. The stiff string boasts smooth and plain flowing, while the soft string has classic beats that are usually more fragile. There are soft and stiff strings in Hakka zheng. However, the Hakka zheng has fewer embellished techniques than the Chaozhou zheng. Hakka zheng shares similarities with Chaozhou Zheng. Players following the style of Chaozhou zheng use their right hands to complete complicated operations such as fingers striking the string to generate different sounds. Compared with other styles of zheng, Chaozhou zheng adopts greater movement with a larger sound. While playing, Shandong zheng player often uses his or her left hand to mimic the singing of vocalists and uses the right hand to play the zheng with strength on tremolos.Ĭhaozhou zheng features distinctive modes and highly embellished melodies. As a member of the string quartets introduced in the Qing dynasty, Shandong zheng is usually played along with “qing shu”, a kind of folk art pairing with Guzheng in this area. Shandong zheng originated from time-honored musical traditions. In China, there are Shandong, Chaozhou, Hakka, Zhejiang, and Fujian styles of Guzheng. There are different styles of Guzheng in different regions. In different regions and different periods, people play Guzheng using different techniques with the strings. From the inside to the outside, the order of the string ranges from 1 to 21. Usually, the low-pitched strings are away from the player, while the high-pitched strings are close to the player. As time goes on, Guzheng is tuned in a major pentatonic scale.ĭifferent genres of Guzheng have different strings such as steel strings and silk strings. The modern Guzheng has 21, 25, or 26 strings in 64 inches.

The Strings of ZitherĪccording to ancient records, there were 12 strings of Zither. This traditional musical instrument in China can be the origin of many zithers in Asian countries such as the Korean ajaeng and Japanese koto. After the fight, one person in this fight gained a 12-string part of Se, and another received 13 strings of the Se. In line with the records in Shuowen Jiezi, an ancient Chinese dictionary discussing Chinese characters, Guzheng was initially a bamboo-tube zither.ĭifferently, some people also believe that Guzheng was born when two people fought on Se, a type of ancient plucked zither originating from China. It is said that Guzheng as an instrument was invented by Meng Tian (a general in the Qin Dynasty). There are different stories about the origin of Guzheng. That is why Chinese people deem the Guzheng more of a musical instrument than a weapon. However, while weapons became more lightweight, Guzheng was deserted as a kind of weapon. Therefore, the weapon evolved to be a musical instrument. Later, people tried to add strings to this kind of weapon. With a history of over 2500 years, Guzheng was initially a kind of weapon in the Warring States period. The early Guzheng was made of five strings and the body was made of bamboo in the form of “Zhu”. Guzheng originated in the Warring States period and was popular in Qin, so it is also called Qin Zheng. Guzheng is known as the “king of music” and “oriental piano” because of its wide sound range, beautiful tone, rich playing skills, and strong expression. Guzheng players often play it for solo, repertoire, instrumental ensemble, and accompaniment of songs, dances, operas, and operettas. It is an ancient folk instrument of the Han people, popular throughout China. Guzheng can be an instrument that is relatively easy to pick up for beginners. Played with a plectrum, Guzheng originates from the traditional music of China. It is a zither-like stringed instrument with at least 18 strings and moveable bridges.

2 string chinese instrument