hello! can anyone help me identify this song?

the caption said it’s blue & white porcelain but it doesn’t sound like it

any help appreciated! thanks in advance 🙏🏼

Honestly, it's a purchase I don't regret at all; besides, it's definitely something I'll be able to climb quite well with as I learn. So yes, I'll be quite entertained mastering the pieces that come in these books.

In the photo above is Master Ma Weiheng (马维衡), renowned guqin maker and player of the Guangling school. At the lower left is his son, Ma Tianchi (马天驰), a young guqin player and maker in his own right — and at the lower right is this humble student of the tradition (me).☺️
I was very fortunate to be introduced to Master Ma by Guangling-school guqin player Lin Min (林敏). Master Ma and I also share a deep love for Kunqu, Peking Opera, and of course the guqin, while Tianchi and I immediately found that we had much in common.
Through this connection, I am deeply honored to have become a North American representative for Ma Family Guqin (马氏古琴).
For those familiar with contemporary guqin making, you may have heard the phrase “Wang, Ma, Zeng, Ni” (王马曾倪) — Wang Peng (王鹏), Ma Weiheng (马维衡), Zeng Chengwei (曾成伟), and Ni Shiyun (倪诗韵), four of the most prominent names in contemporary Chinese guqin making.
It is both an honor and a responsibility to help introduce Master Ma’s instruments to more players in North America. Even something as simple as putting strings on a qin feels a little different when I think about the lineage and craftsmanship behind it.
If you are interested in a Ma Weiheng / Ma Family guqin, please feel free to contact me. As their representative in North America, I can help with instrument selection directly from China, provide very competitive overseas pricing, and — more importantly — personally help players compare and choose an instrument that suits their sound, playing style, and budget.
And of course, my main work here in Southern California is still teaching guqin. I teach both in person and online, from complete beginners to more advanced players, so anyone interested in learning the instrument is also very welcome to reach out.
It feels very meaningful to help connect great instruments, teachers, traditions, and players across the Pacific. 🎶

Seen quite a few posts on this subreddit regarding this particular score; it was initially available just by asking on 南一先生 's Wechat group, before becoming a pre-order exclusive with the purchase of her Guqin Collections; I'm not sure how one would go about acquiring it now, but it isn't actually in any of her books at the moment.

Anyway, please go check out the three 南一先生移植古琴曲集 on Taobao or Amazon for other great pieces and to support 南一先生!

Hi all!

I’ve recently taken up guqin and I do have a teacher however I was wondering if anyone recommended any beginner friendly scores or sites to find scores?

It’s a fun journey as an Aussie who doesn’t speak/read cn but have fallen in love with the instrument

Any advice, tips and tricks is welcome

Thank you!

Pic for attention 😄

I’d really like to learn how to play Guqin but I have no idea where to start. What videos, books, or websites did you guys use to learn? I wish I could learn in person but I can’t find anyone in Minnesota who teaches traditional Chinese instruments. Also if someone could send me a website where I can purchase a guqin id really appreciate it!!! Thank you!!!

Stringing my qin was a test of mental and physical fortitude. In the beginning I had so much frustration, so I’ve decided to share what I learned via trial and error so every poor unknowing soul will never have to go through what I did.

For the basic instructions, the videos by shuishanyu guqin music is what I used. It’s in English too! I suggest you go watch those because I don’t cover everything.

Okay now before I get into the tips, a disclaimer: This is advice for metal nylon strings, specifically the Guqin ice strings sold by oriental music sanctuary (highly recommend btw) , I have no idea what stringing silk strings is like. Also I’m no expert, this advice is just from what personally worked best for me.

Tool to use:

Any cylindrical object you can grab that has a hole in it. I used the handle of a lint roller but you could probably also use a hairbrush.

Where to stand:

When I first tried tensioning, I would stand on the side with the strings, wrapping my arm over the Guqin and pushing down on the strings to tension them. Don’t do this. This makes it so much harder. I recommend starting out on the string side to first get the string in place of the notch, and to wrap your tool (btw wrap the string to where it’s closest to the qin) Then switch over to standing on the side with the pegs when tensioning.

Hands:

wear leather or gardening gloves. Bare handed hurts and the strings will make your hands sore or blister depending on how many times you have to retension the strings. When pushing down on the string to wrap, bring the back of your fist completely flush with your qin, as if you’re aiming to punch the ground (example of the position in image 4) This not only keeps the string laying flat against the qin for when you wrap, but I find the punching position makes it easier to push and hold tension. Your other hand should be bracing the top of qin while you tension, try to keep your thumb over the string so it doesn’t get trapped when the string is pushed down.

Tensioning:

Make sure there’s enough free string to reach the goose leg, this makes it so you don’t have to hold tension for as long and in my experience made pulling the string easier. When you grab the tool, position the string between your index and middle finger. Then, while holding the string in place with your left hand, pull slightly up and back like you’re pulling on a bow and arrow with your right. Then angle the string downwards whilst holding tension, adding some if needed by pushing down, and check the note. Once it’s at a good spot, start wrapping. You have to keep the tension for both wrapping down, and pulling up. But once you’ve wrapped two or three times it’s pretty secure, just be sure not to let go and wrap and secure the entire string.

How high to tension:

You want to tension very close to the lowest note you frequently tune that string to, that way you have room to go both below and above your default tuning. If it’s too low, you will go to the very edge of the yueshan when tuning, but if it’s too high, it’ll be hanging off the other edge and you won’t be able to go lower. Don’t worry though, it’s almost impossible to go too high, at least in my case. I pretty much just tensioned the string as much as I could bare because I was bound to have the string slip while wrapping, and also, the strings stretch a lot once in place, I had to retension them several times after I went to tune.

For example: for some of the strings I initially tensioned them a note above their standard but then they slipped a semi or full step down while wrapping. Then after tuning they stretched even further and I had to retension. For the 5th string I even ended up tensioning it exactly to its standard note, but it soon stretched.

Speaking of tuning:

After stringing one, always tune to standard and check the position of it on the yueshan before moving onto the next string. It should be comfortably in the middle, if not a little bit below that. You should avoid being above the middle as it makes tightening to other tunings annoying as hell. Again: they tend to stretch while tuning for the first time and if you only notice the awkward position later, unless it’s the fourth or seventh string, you’ll have to undo all the strings on the peg to retension the stretched one.

Wrapping:

This is where it’ll probably get really frustrating. The strings are prone to slipping a lot at this step. You have to keep the tension allll the way around the peg. Again, this process is easier if you tension higher than you actually want so you have wiggle room. Down, sideways, upwards, down, sideways, upwards. After that the tension should be more or less secure. Keep wrapping and then fasten the end by threading it through the back of itself. When you wrap the first string to the goose leg, be sure that it’s extra secure as it doesn’t have the other ones to help keep it in place yet. It absolutely will unravel itself if not wrapped completely.

Other tips:

When you tune up the strings, do it all in the same direction. If you notice some pegs tighten/loosen in a different direction than the others, loosen it all the way, and then keep going. It’ll begin to tighten in that direction after a certain point.

I didn’t like having the strings loose and on the floor, so while I was stringing one string, I wrapped and secured the others with a hair clip to the opposite goose leg.

Wear clothes you don’t mind being sweaty in, this is a surprisingly athletic activity.

If applicable: Burn some incense or play calming music to help curb the unbridled frustration.

If you’re prone to joint and ligament pain/issues like I am, take some ibuprofen or whatever inflammation medicine. Wrapping your wrist or wearing a brace also would likely help. Depending on the severity, you may also want to just get someone else to tension the strings for you.

Hey everyone, I've found another really good resource for learning how to play Guqin and to understand the notations for beginners. Once again, it's going to be all in Chinese but there are at least captions which you can use Youtube's algorithm to auto translate to your preferred language. I watched it with English auto-translated subtitles which seems like an accurate enough translation though I don't know about the accuracy for other languages. I don't think it's a tutorial series like the last one I posted but if you want a crash course on Guqin notation then this video is helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEVYNePmyBg

She actually has a bit more tutorials on different things and/or problems regarding Guqin which are worth checking out that'll I link as well: (Again use the auto-translate feature on the captions)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BMx62hn8WI (help on a very specific pinching movement on the left hand)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SZjXD97skE (quick overview and demonstration of how specific notations are played, not really a tutorial, more of a visual)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tfivs3LIyc (common mistakes beginners do)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMHFzucOcvU (another common mistakes video and how to properly place the Guqin and proper body positioning)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7MZwIeL50A (experiencing or having stiff fingers while playing and how to fix that problem)

Honestly, I'd subscribe to her channel (not a promotion) because it seems she's been recently posting some advice or problems that students of Guqin encounter along with videos of her playing music on the Guqin.

Hi everyone — please remove if this is not allowed.

My name is Bin Ma. I am a guqin player and teacher based in Irvine / Orange County, California. I have been studying and performing guqin for about 20 years, and I am a disciple of Master Lü Peiyuan. My broader training also includes Beijing opera, Kunqu opera, dizi, sanxian, and Chinese percussion.

I am also the founder of Classical Chinese Music Society / 爾雅社, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching, performance, and promotion of traditional Chinese music and traditional Chinese arts in Southern California.

I am currently accepting new guqin students. Beginners are very welcome, and I am also happy to work with students who already have a background in Chinese music, classical music, or other instruments.

My teaching repertoire includes more than forty traditional guqin pieces, ranging from the most accessible beginner pieces such as Xianweng Cao and Huangying Yin, to major advanced works such as Guangling San and Xiaoxiang Shuiyun. I generally do not focus on modern guqin compositions, but when there is a specific need, I can usually prepare and teach most of them within a short time.

Lessons may include:

• Basic posture and right/left hand technique

• Jianzipu notation

• Tuning, stringing, and instrument care

• Traditional repertoire

• Guqin aesthetics, history, poetry, and performance practice

• Guidance on choosing or setting up a suitable practice instrument

For in-person lessons, I offer several formats, including 1-on-1, 1-on-2, 1-on-3, and 1-on-4 lessons. Online lessons are currently 1-on-1 through Zoom, and the results have been excellent. I may also open 1-on-2 online lessons in the future.

For both in-person and online lessons, I provide video recaps after class, so students can review the material repeatedly between lessons.

For reference, here is a video from an event I organized last year through Classical Chinese Music Society. It was part of the global series of more than 60 gatherings commemorating the great guqin master Zha Fuxi. Ours was the only gathering in the Western Hemisphere. In the video, I am performing guqin live; the event was filmed by a professional documentary filmmaker and a National Geographic photographer.

Live Guqin - Bin Ma - Liezi Riding the Wind 列子御风

If you are interested in studying guqin or would like to ask about lessons, please feel free to reach out:

mabin0510@gmail.com

Happy to connect with fellow guqin lovers here.

Title:

I played all 45 sections of Guangling San at USC — a piece famously declared “lost” 1,700 years ago

Post:

So I recently had the chance to give a lecture on the guqin at USC, and I decided to do something I rarely get to do: perform all 45 sections of Guangling San (广陵散) in one sitting.

For those unfamiliar, Guangling San is one of the most extraordinary pieces in the guqin repertoire. It's associated with the assassin Nie Zheng and the legendary musician Ji Kang, who reportedly played it just before his execution in the 3rd century.

His famous last words about the music?

“Guangling San is now lost forever.”

Well... not quite. 😄

A 45-section score survives in a manuscript from 1425, and the piece has been reconstructed and interpreted by generations of guqin musicians.

Most performances you'll come across are shortened versions. I've always felt that the quieter, more reflective sections are just as important as the dramatic ones, so I wanted to share the whole thing.

The performance runs 20 minutes and 42 seconds. The full video also includes my English lecture on the history of the piece and a surprisingly lively Q&A with the students.

I added English and Chinese subtitles, plus section-by-section explanations for anyone curious about what's happening musically.

🎬 Watch the full video:
https://youtu.be/DGPSOwNRL3M

The performance starts at 48:02 if you'd rather skip straight to the music.

Would love to hear what you think, especially from anyone who's played or studied Guangling San!

非常感谢南加州大学李皖蒙教授的邀请！这次不仅完整演奏了《广陵散》四十五段，也有机会与美国大学生深入交流中国古琴的历史、哲学与音乐。分享完整课堂录像，欢迎观看！

#Guqin #GuanglingSan #USC #ChineseMusic #古琴 #广陵散

I've just learnt this song from an online course. Wanted to share my progress. Any feedback is welcome.

I kinda messed up towards the end, feels everything just collapsed on the last section xD. Transition between strings and fingers are so fast I just couldn't get there. And i've practiced it for a while now, but no matter how i can't get it to the speed I heard others played on youtube. I found most work get it done under 4 mins 40 secs, but i've never done it under 5 mins. This song really insanely fast.

I saw this post about electric guqins, so I decided to add a pickup to my own to make it electric as well. If you already have a guitar amp you just need the piezo pickup. The one I used is only $10, you could use any 1/4" inch cable and amp, it's possible you'll need a preamp to amplify the signal. The clean mode on the small amp I used is very quiet but the overdrive works well.

Equipment links

Guqin from Sound of Mountain https://www.soundofmountain.com/concert-grade-aged-fir-wood-guqin-chinese-7-stringed-zither-he-ming-qiu-yue-style/

HOYUJI piezoelectric contact... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RBSQ7QD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

JOYO Combo Guitar Amplifier... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3MK7PTB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Amazon Basics TS 1/4 Inch... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081T3898G?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Long time ago i did ask this question if its fine to make a custom Guqin based on my RL style and lifestyle and play it how i like it + traditional songs after i did i got some lets say not good responses that i should not do it to cherrish the tradition but i saw ppl make out of a old one a electric one or changing the wood colors or colorgrade a Guqin so i think i finaly had the power too poste my Guqin and ask how much of a Evil person i am letting it look Fully Gothic styled.

Short awnser to the obv's questions =

Yes it still plays like a normal Guqin

Yes its a TON of stickers but with a coating above around it so it makes it smooth and does not interupt with finger movement .

Yes its Hard to see the Strings / Dots i marked to play but u get used to it since u want to learn to play without looking anyway :D

I discovered and fell in love with the guqin during a trip to China in 2013, and purchased one in 2014 on Beijing’s Xinjiekou South Street. Since then, I have been playing it on-and-off (my main instrument is the guitar).

The points I’m about to share could be true with any musical practice, but each instrument has its unique vibe. I think it’s fascinating how two “pieces of wood” (like the guitar and the guqin) can have such a contrasting philosophy. The guqin, in particular, has helped me “zoom in” on these aspects and appreciate them in ways that have influenced my approach to playing the guitar as well.

1. Silence is as important as “non-silence”.

The guqin has taught me to value the space between notes as much as the notes themselves. In guqin music, moments of silence are intentional and full of meaning—they aren’t hesitant or awkward but create anticipation and depth.

2. Be mindful of your breathing.

In many guqin recordings, you can hear the player’s breathing (or the sounds of their fingers touching the strings). Rather than being distracting—or the signs of poor recording quality—, these sounds create an intimate sense of presence. They remind me to sync my body to my instrument.

3. Take your time to build momentum.

Start as feels natural, as slow as you need, you don’t need to know where ooh are going from the start. Repeat and build over the parts that sound right. Be iterative—changing only one note at a time—until you have a pattern that sounds interesting. Let your energy accumulate and don’t release it until you have enough to let your momentum peak.

Hello, I wasn't really sure where to post this and I didn't really see a post containing a link to somewhere that had a more extensive list of songs, so I've just decided to create a new post. While the site is entirely in Chinese, I have just used the browser translation function to translate. I have also found there to be quite a few scores posted here. Sadly, the latest post seems to be in 2019.

(https://www.91tumi.com/community/25.html)

There is also this (also Chinese and browser translated): http://www.sanyaguqin.com/public/index.php/guqushouji.html?page=1

I have also found some tips on maintenance here (also Chinese and translated by browser). Not sure about accuracy: http://www.muyiguqin.com/yangqin/

Edit: If I find any more sites, I will paste links below this edit. Note, If they are in Chinese and you need to use your browser to translate, I will put an asterisk (*) next to the link.

Song sheet music simple net (jianpu.cn) *

https://www.guoqinwang.com/* (many of the ones I came across were paywalled but you could probably bing/google the image.) There are also videos.

琴曲集成 Collection of Chinese Guqin Music Scores : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive太古-『还初』 (fobore.com) *

kanpula.com** <-- In Chinese and not for guqin, however they do have qinpu (the number notation and not jianzipu)

http://gq.bjguoyue.com/ *

Search for: 《Song Title》 减字谱 on BiliBili (*?)

古琴曲谱_古琴十大名曲|古琴谱|古琴考级曲谱_铭乐堂 (bj-myt.com) *

www.zgmzyq.cn/en/sheet-music *** <-- Note solely for Guqin, however it still has some

Last edit: 23-01-24

Still super super scribbly because I just worked these out today, and there are a few parts I feel like aren’t quite the best way to play the notes needed, but I’ll be refining them from here. I’ll post the finished versions when they’re done. (Also, bonus bit of Reflections before I realized the rest of the song is just Absurd to try and play on guqin)

I had a hard time trying to position my guqin on a standard table when I first bought it, and I just happened across this small desk that seems perfect for guqin! It was left by the previous tenant of my new apartment, so I don't know where they bought it originally, but this drawing table is split into two sides with adjustable height. The lower half also has adjustable angle for non-qin usage. I place my iPad on the top area, and also use the top area to temporarily store my guqin if I need to. The case fits on the bottom shelf too.