Guqin Tunings - List of Common Tunings

List of Common Tunings

Below is a list of common tunings for the qin. Note that some tunings have more than one scale and names, and that the relative relations are transposed (i.e. the do note is shifted to the appropriate string) in accordance with Chinese music theory. There can be several different names for a single tuning, and some even overlap, creating confusion. The table below uses the most common name for the tuning and lists the variants.

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

Name of Tuning (Chinese) English name Tuning method Pitch relation Relative relation Key Other names Representing melodies Listen to the scale being played
Standard
正調 Zheng Diao Original Tuning N/A C D F G A c d 5 6 1 2 3 5 6 F 宮調, 仲呂調, 黃鐘調, 角調, 羽調, 林鐘調 《平沙落鴈》, 《梅花三弄》, 《流水》, 《漁樵問答》, 《漁歌》, 《神人暢》 Listen
1 2 4 5 6 1 2 C 借調, 商調, 徵調, 商角調 《碣石調幽蘭》, 《醉漁唱晚》, 《龍翔操》, 《憶故人》
Non-standard
蕤賔調 Ruibin Diao Lush Guest Tuning Raise 5th string C D F G B♭ c d 2 3 5 6 1 2 3 B♭ 金羽, 清羽, 無射均 《瀟湘水雲》, 《陽關三曡》, 《龍翔操》, 《欸乃》 Listen
慢角調 Manjiao Diao Lowered Third-string Tuning Lower 3rd string C D E G A c d 1 2 3 5 6 1 2 C 角調, 黃鐘均, 林鐘調, 黃鐘宮 《風雷引》, 《鳳求凰》 Listen
清商調 Qingshang Diao Sharpen Re Tuning Raise 2nd, 5th and 7th strings C E♭ F G B♭ c e♭ 6 1 2 3 5 6 1 E♭ 商調, 夾鐘調, 小碧玉調, 姑洗調 《搗衣》, 《秋鴻》 Listen
慢宮調 Mangong Diao Lowered First-string Tuning Lower 1st, 3rd and 6th strings B D E G A B d 3 5 6 1 2 3 5 G 太簇調, 夷則均, 徵調 《挾仙游》, 《獲麟》 Listen
慢商調 Manshang Diao Lowered Second-string Tuning Lower 2nd string C C F G A c d 1 1 4 5 6 1 2 C None 《廣陵散》 Listen
無射調 Wuyi Diao Wuyi Tuning Raise 5th and lower 1st strings B♭ D F G B♭ c d 1 3 5 6 1 2 3 B♭ 黃鐘宮調 《大胡笳》, 《小胡笳》, 《胡笳十八拍》, 《昭君怨》 Listen
凄凉調 Qiliang Diao Cold Misery Tuning Raise 2nd and 5th strings C E♭ F G B♭ c d 2 4 5 6 1 2 3 B♭ 楚商調, 外調 《離騷》, 《澤畔吟》, 《屈原問渡》 Listen
側商調 Ceshang Diao Besides the Re Tuning Lower 3rd, 4th and 6th strings C D E F♯ A B d 7♭ 1 2 3 5 6 1 D None 《古怨》 Listen
1 2 3 4♯ 6 7 2 C
無媒調 Wumei Diao No Intermediary Tuning Lower 3rd and 6th strings C D E G A B d 1 2 3 5 6 7 2 C None 《孤舘遇神》 Listen
3 5 7 1 2 3 5 G


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