How do I choose a guqin ?

1、 Selection of Wood

The guqin currently circulating in the market is mostly made of tung or fir wood as the surface. These two materials have three common characteristics: firstly, they have good vibration and are easy to pick up sound; Secondly, it has stable properties and is not easily deformed; The third is in line with the taste of the qin, not quiet but not noisy, and harmonious with intelligence and elegance. The bottom of the qin is mostly made of catalpa wood and nanmu.

2、 Listening to music

The guqin has three types of tones (scattered, overtone, and pressed), which are different from any other instrument and are also a prerequisite for expressing tension in the guqin. Therefore, when choosing a qin, all three tones need to be compared and tested. The timbre and volume of loose notes, press notes, and overtones should be unified, with the sound having a sinking feeling and a lingering charm being the top priority, and the display of sound is the most taboo.

The timbre of guqin is related to the selection of wood and groove system.

All the material selection for guqin is to lay the foundation for having a good timbre, so the most important thing to choose a good qin is to have the sound you like. The timbre of any two different guqin pieces will be different, even if they are taken from the same tree and made by the same pianist, their timbre will also be different.

The groove belly system is one of the biggest reasons for affecting the timbre, as the sound of the guqin lies in the vibration between the surface and bottom plates, and the depth and thickness of the groove belly are the fundamental reasons for the difference in vibration. Every Zhuo Qin player will discern the sound after digging the groove, and then slowly adjust the groove until they are satisfied.

3、 Tactile sensation

For pianists, a comfortable guqin is definitely the biggest driving force for their future persistence.

The most taboo aspects in hand feel are finger resistance and punching.

Anti fingering refers to the excessive height of the Yue Shang, which causes the strings to be too far away from the emotional surface, causing difficulty in the left hand when playing the key and affecting the fingering and performance. The anti finger qin often causes damage to the opponent during the playing process, which in the long run will inevitably lead to a distance from the guqin.

Playing the board is due to the fact that Yue Shan is relatively low, and there is a phenomenon of the strings hitting the surface of the piano when playing with his right hand. Moreover, fingers can also produce the phenomenon of tapping the piano surface. A piano without finger resistance, with the position of the seven badges, should have the strings about 0.5 centimeters away from the surface of the piano.

In addition, the looseness of the strings can also have an impact on the feel. Usually, when lightly pressing the strings with the palm of the hand, feeling the blocking force of the strings while not feeling the strain is a relatively satisfactory state. Otherwise, if the strings are too loose, the sound will appear weak and too soft, and if they are too tight, the comfort of the fingertips will be greatly reduced when playing.

4、 Color discrimination

Placing an item that is pleasing to the eye is also a manifestation of its value. Here, color discrimination not only focuses on preferences for paint color, but also on how to easily distinguish the materials used for a piano paint surface.

The most intuitive thing about a well aged guqin is to look at the paint surface. A good paint is as clear as oil, it can shine on a beauty's head. So the surface of the guqin made from raw lacquer and carefully polished multiple times must be transparent.

If the surface of the guqin itself is a bit dark, rubbing the surface with the palm of your hand will have a significant effect, and the lacquer will instantly brighten. This is also why a good guqin can be nurtured better, not only in terms of timbre, but also in terms of paint finish. The longer you play, the friction between your fingers and the piano surface will make the paint more shiny.

Moreover, it is also important to note whether the tuning of the qin zhen is difficult. Some pianos that are not well strung may experience difficulty in turning the strings during tuning, and may even abrade the hands.

When selecting the guqin at the beginning, the selection range is determined based on the economic foundation, whether it is the practice qin or the famous qin. Firstly, it is necessary to ensure the tactile feel. The tactile experience of the player varies from person to person, and comfort is the foundation for further investment; Secondly, we strive for timbre, as each guqin has a different timbre. Even for practicing the qin, we can choose one that is relatively more appealing; Finally, there is the pursuit of overall aesthetics in the form, where a guqin is not only a tool for learning, but also has a pleasing effect and becomes a work of art.

It is recommended to buy Jiuyin Guqin (www.jiuyinguqin.com), a pure handmade guqin with high cost performance in China, which is sold to more than 100 countries and regions at home and abroad and is widely loved by Overseas Chinese.

Hot selling style of Jiuyin Guqin (rhinoceros skin pattern Zhongni style collectible level)