Yueqin: A Classic Chinese Plucked Guitar

Abstract

The most notable characteristic of the yueqin is its high frets. A PicoScope oscilloscope and related data recorder were used to record the sound signals in real time. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis, and voltage-based triggering were all made possible by PicoScope software. The PicoScope recorded the fundamental frequency for open strings 1, 2, 3, and 4 as 222 Hz (A3=220), 146 Hz (D3=146), 222 Hz (A3=220), and 292 Hz (D4=294), respectively. The strings 1, 2, 3, and 4 were perceived as A3, D3, A2, and D2, respectively. The measured frequencies were not in accordance with perceived notes due to the phenomenon in which the listener claimed to recognize the note D2 when they actually heard D4. This is the well-known phenomenon of the ‘missing fundamental’. The frequency between the frets follows a musical system that might change depending on the tuning and regional tradition. The running note for open string 1 is A3 and fret 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11,13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 23 are B3, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4, C5, D5, E5, F5, G5, A5 whereas fret 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, and 21 have the notes D4↑, D4#↓, F4#↓, G4#↑, A4#↓, C5#↑, D5↑, F5↓, and F5#↑ respectively.