Learning Materials
Jump to: Videos | English Books | Chinese Books
So you’re choosing the self-study path, eh? Well, let’s see what we can do to help.
Videos
It’s helpful to see and hear another player - so consider watching some of these videos to acclimated to the guzheng. In alphabetical order:
Bei Bei’s 80 Minute Guzheng Tutorial - a New! (2021) crash course that aims to get you familiar with everything a new beginner needs in just 80 minutes.
Bei Bei’s Video Accompaniments for Guzheng Course Book 1, Sessions Vol 2
Nancy Chan, a teacher producing videos and music guides in English and Chinese.
Sound of China videos, meant to accompany their Basic Tutorial
YuSa Guzheng Tutorial - spoken Mandarin but (mostly) subtitled in English. Excellent camera positions to make things visible. Explanations are quality. Highly Recommended!
Books, English
My top two recommendations are, in alphabetical order:
Bei Bei’s Easiest GuZheng Course
Sound of China Guzheng Basic Tutorial - (review)
Both of these were written by active professionals here in North America; Bei Bei it the most successful performer in North America and Sound of China is the largest business (that I know of, of course). Both come with matching videos available on Youtube (see Video section).
Other books in English and in Alphabetical order are:
An Introduction to the Gu-Zheng Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, Volume 4
Gu Zheng Sessions Vol.1 - a Beginner’s Guide to Playing the Chinese Zither
Teaching Foreigners to Play Guzheng - (review)
The only English book I know that uses Staff notation; it has some grammar issues that can confuse new learners.
And a warning:
How to Play Guzheng, the Chinese Zither: The Basic Skills
Reviews say this is overly simplified, very short, and does not offer much in the way of musical scores, so I won’t link it. Just be aware.
Books, Chinese
So many! Here are links to some of the major stores’ Book pages for you to look through at your convenience.
And If you really want to dive deep