Chapter 136 Playing the Guqin
"That's right," Boss Li added. "If you look at the literature describing how to play the guqin, it's all called 'fuqin'. Usually, the guqin is played by plucking the strings with the right hand and pressing the strings with the left hand, moving back and forth on the strings, and paying attention to the rhythm. The fingering method for playing the guzheng is completely different from that for the guqin."
Wen Fangfei stretched out her hands, spread out her ten fingers, and demonstrated to Li Xiaoru on the spot, "We use the thumb, index finger and middle finger of the right hand to pluck the strings of the guzheng, and the left hand uses the tension of the strings to control the changes in the string sound and embellish the melody."
Only then did Li Xiaoru realize that Wen Fangfei's fingers were covered with calluses, just like her own hands, except that the calluses were in different locations.
“Guzheng has more strings than guqin, and it seems that guqin is easier to learn than guzheng, but in fact, the ancients believed that guqin is much more difficult than guzheng because guqin is more about artistic conception, which is a very mysterious thing that is difficult to master.
Look at the “High Mountains and Flowing Water” played by Yu Boya for Zhong Ziqi, and the “Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix” played by Sima Xiangru for Zhuo Wenjun. To achieve that kind of artistic conception, one can only rely on understanding and talent, and it cannot be learned at all. Therefore, fewer and fewer people are learning guqin now. The number of students in the guqin department of our college is less than a quarter of that in the guzheng department, and the school does not pay much attention to this niche major," Wen Fangfei explained to Li Xiaoru.
Li Xiaoru nodded as if she was being taught. "I used to think that the guzheng and guqin were the same instrument. I didn't know there were so many details to the guzheng and guqin."
"Unfortunately, most parents are like you now, they don't understand folk music. People who have never studied music always subconsciously think that Western musical instruments are high-end. When cultivating their children's interest, they choose Western musical instruments such as piano and violin, which has caused folk music to gradually decline," said Boss Li in a disappointed tone.
"My store has been here for 20 years. In recent years, business has been declining. It's getting worse every year. Sometimes I can receive five or six customers a day, but sometimes I don't have any customers at all. Look at the guitar store across the street. It has a constant stream of customers every day."
Li Xiaoru said, "Guitar is different. All those boys flock to learn guitar because they can sing while playing it, which makes it easier to pick up girls."
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Li Xiaoru always manages to amuse people around her and make everyone feel better.
Wen Fangfei agreed with a smile, "That makes sense. When a boy plays the guitar, a group of girls will immediately gather around him."
"To create this kind of effect, you need to be a handsome guy," Li Xiaoru smiled at Wen Fangfei, "If you play the guzheng in public, you will be able to attract a group of boys immediately."
The three girls chatted and laughed, and finally the shadow of the broken strings was dispelled.
Wen Fangfei asked Liu Lan tentatively, "You seem to be very interested in this guqin. Do you want to try playing it?"
Li Xiaoru thought Wen Fangfei's words were strange, "Have you forgotten that we are in the piano department? How can Manman play the guqin?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Liu Lan looked at Wen Fangfei's eyes that knew everything, and knew that she couldn't hide it from her. Liu Lan asked Boss Li, "Can I try playing this guqin?"
"Of course, I've already tuned the piano, just play it," Boss Li said readily.
Liu Lan brought the stool to the front of the piano and sat down.
"I have artificial nails in my bag, you can put them on and then play," Wen Fangfei said as she opened her shoulder bag.
Liu Lan shook her head and smiled, "I have never used artificial nails. I always use my own nails."
Wen Fangfei's eyes couldn't help but fall on Liu Lan's fingers. She found it very strange. As everyone knows, one cannot grow long nails when playing the piano. The fingertips must touch the keys, otherwise it is easy to slip on the keys. Liu Lan's nails were trimmed very neatly.
How to pluck the strings with fingers like this?
Doesn’t it hurt?
Liu Lan had not touched the guqin since Mrs. Xu passed away. Sitting in front of the guqin, she didn't know what song to play for a moment, so she tried playing a minor tune first.
The melody is simple but beautiful!
Li Xiaoru was stunned.
Manman...she can actually play the guqin. Her fingers are so flexible and she looks very good. The feeling she gives her is similar to that when Fangfei plays the guzheng.
Wen Fangfei and Boss Li, two experts, were also very surprised. First, Liu Lan's tone was standard and her fingering was skillful, which showed that she had a solid foundation. Second, the little tune she played seemed very unfamiliar to them.
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