Guzheng
The guzheng is a Chinese zither: 21 strings, movable bridges, two busy hands.
How the guzheng makes its sound
Right hand plucks
Picks taped to the fingertips pluck the strings right of the bridges. Fast fingers make the shimmering tremolo.
Left hand bends
The left hand presses strings on the other side of the bridge. Those slides and that vibrato are the sound you remember.
Bridges set the scale
Each string has its own movable bridge. Slide it to tune or change key. Dry air can pull strings out of tune.
The right hand makes the note. The left makes it sing.
Buying your first zheng
A guzheng ships as oversize freight in a hard case. Trade rules on rosewood and red sandalwood vary by species and change, so ask what the wood is before ordering.
Guzheng
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
How many strings does a guzheng have?
A modern guzheng has 21 strings. Older forms had fewer, and some newer designs have more.
Is the guzheng hard to learn?
It is easy to start, because the open strings sound good together. Clean pressing and a fast tremolo take years of steady practice.
What is the difference between a guzheng and a guqin?
A guzheng has 21 strings on movable bridges, with a bright sound. A guqin has seven strings, no movable bridges and a quiet voice. Japan's koto is a cousin of the zheng.
