Acoustic Profiling of the Guqin Zither

Abstract

This study's main goal is to investigate the guqin's frequency spectrum and the time frequency analysis. Its non-fret-based pitch system yields measurable polynomial connections between the partial frequency and the harmonic number for all strings. The tuning, harmonic content changes across the strings provide fresh perspectives on the instrument's acoustic character and artistic versatility. Although the sound of the lowest to the highest pitch was perceived as: C2, D2, F2, G2, A2, C3 and D3, the results from the picoscope showed: C3, D3, F3, G3, A3, C3, and D4. The 1^st harmonic on the open 7^thstring occur at C3. The 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th and 8^th harmonic occur at half the string length i.e. hui 7 is C4, at one and two third the string length i.e. hui 5 and hui 9 are G3, at one and three fourth the string length i.e. hui 4 and hui 10 are C4, at one and four fifth the string length i.e. hui 3, 6, 8 and 11 are E4, at one and five sixth the string length i.e. hui 2 and hui 12 are G4 and one and seven eight the string length i.e. hui 1 and 13 are C5.