Tuning 16, 18, 23, and 26-string Guzheng
Jump to: 16 String | 18 String | 21 String | 23 String | 26 String
Sure the 21-string is popular but what about the older styles with fewer strings and the new styles with more? The normal tuning process is the same but the note range changes.
Remember:
String 1 is usually closest to the performer, tuned highest, and String 16, 26, etc is farthest, tuned lowest. Older references sometimes count in the other direction.
If one of every 5 strings is colored then the colored string is typically an A.
If two of every 7 strings is colored your instrument is probably intended for the Diatonic scale. The tunings on this page don’t apply.
All of the below are in key of G for ease of writing. See the guide to Key Changes to switch to other keys.
16 String Guzheng
1. D6 (1174.7 Hz)
2. B5 (987.77 Hz)
3. A5 (880 Hz)
4. G5 (784 Hz)
5. E5 (659.25 Hz)
6. D5 (587.33 Hz)
7. B4 (493.88 Hz)
8. A4 (440 Hz)
9. G4 (392 Hz)
10. E4 (329.63 Hz)
11. D4 (293.66 Hz)
12. B3 (246.94 Hz)
13. A3 (220 Hz)
14. G3 (196 Hz)
15. E3 (164.81 Hz)
16. D3 (146.83 Hz)
18 String Guzheng
1. D6 (1174.7 Hz)
2. B5 (987.77 Hz)
3. A5 (880 Hz)
4. G5 (784 Hz)
5. E5 (659.25 Hz)
6. D5 (587.33 Hz)
7. B4 (493.88 Hz)
8. A4 (440 Hz)
9. G4 (392 Hz)
10. E4 (329.63 Hz)
11. D4 (293.66 Hz)
12. B3 (246.94 Hz)
13. A3 (220 Hz)
14. G3 (196 Hz)
15. E3 (164.81 Hz)
16. D3 (146.83 Hz)
17. B2 (123.47 Hz)
18. A2 (110 Hz)
21 String Guzheng
1. D6 (1174.7 Hz)
2. B5 (987.77 Hz)
3. A5 (880 Hz)
4. G5 (784 Hz)
5. E5 (659.25 Hz)
6. D5 (587.33 Hz)
7. B4 (493.88 Hz)
8. A4 (440 Hz)
9. G4 (392 Hz)
10. E4 (329.63 Hz)
11. D4 (293.66 Hz)
12. B3 (246.94 Hz)
13. A3 (220 Hz)
14. G3 (196 Hz)
15. E3 (164.81 Hz)
16. D3 (146.83 Hz)
17. B2 (123.47 Hz)
18. A2 (110 Hz)
19. G2 (98 Hz)
20. E2 (82.4 Hz)
21. D2 (73.416 Hz)
23 String Guzheng
1. E6 (1318.5 Hz)
2. D6 (1174.7 Hz)
3. B5 (987.77 Hz)
4. A5 (880 Hz)
5. G5 (784 Hz)
6. E5 (659.25 Hz)
7. D5 (587.33 Hz)
8. B4 (493.88 Hz)
9. A4 (440 Hz)
10. G4 (392 Hz)
11. E4 (329.63 Hz)
12. D4 (293.66 Hz)
13. B3 (246.94 Hz)
14. A3 (220 Hz)
15. G3 (196 Hz)
16. E3 (164.81 Hz)
17. D3 (146.83 Hz)
18. B2 (123.47 Hz)
19. A2 (110 Hz)
20. G2 (98 Hz)
21. E2 (82.4 Hz)
22. D2 (73.416 Hz)
23. B1 (61.735 Hz)
26 String Guzheng
1. G6 (1568 Hz)
2. E6 (1318.5 Hz)
3. D6 (1174.7 Hz)
4. B5 (987.77 Hz)
5. A5 (880 Hz)
6. G5 (784 Hz)
7. E5 (659.25 Hz)
8. D5 (587.33 Hz)
9. B4 (493.88 Hz)
10. A4 (440 Hz)
11. G4 (392 Hz)
12. E4 (329.63 Hz)
13. D4 (293.66 Hz)
14. B3 (246.94 Hz)
15. A3 (220 Hz)
16. G3 (196 Hz)
17. E3 (164.81 Hz)
18. D3 (146.83 Hz)
19. B2 (123.47 Hz)
20. A2 (110 Hz)
21. G2 (98 Hz)
22. E2 (82.4 Hz)
23. D2 (73.416 Hz)
24. B1 (61.735 Hz)
25. A1 (55 Hz)
26. G1 (49 Hz)