The so-called "even" sound of the guqin generally means that the sound of the seven strings is clear, full, even and balanced, without the problem of "three solids and four virtuals". It seems to explain the "evenness" here, but it doesn't make it clear how to be even, how to balance, what is real and what is virtual.

In fact, whether the sound of a guqin is "even" is not simply to compare the differences between the strings. "Three real and four imaginary" is a vertical comparison between strings, but how to compare?

Longitudinal comparison of the same tone:

1. Disperse the sound evenly

There are only seven scattered sounds in total, and they can only be compared vertically. Play the empty strings with the same fingering at the same vertical position. For example, scatter the strings one to seven in the middle of Yihui and Yueshan to compare whether the timbre is balanced or the volume changes. Is it symmetrical. If you hear a string that doesn't vibrate enough or has noise that doesn't match the timbre of the other strings, it's uneven dispersion.

2. Press the sound evenly

It is also very simple to compare whether the sound is even or not. Use the same fingering to play the sound at the same vertical position. For example, on the more commonly used ten emblems, nine emblems, seven emblems and other emblems, play the sound vertically and listen to the volume and residual sound. , Whether the degree of fullness is consistent. If the sound of the seven strings and seven emblems is transparent, but when you switch to six strings, you feel that the volume of the seven emblems is not enough and dull, that is, the sound is uneven longitudinally.

Horizontal comparison of the same tone:

1. Press the sound evenly

Horizontal comparison is to compare the timbres of different positions on the same string. Due to the string length of the guqin, the sound range of the same string is as high as 2-3 octaves. The difficulty of listening horizontally is more difficult than vertical. The effect of pitch differences on hearing. Take Yixian as an example. Generally, the resonance from the outside of the emblem to the seventh emblem is ok, but when it reaches the upper-level area, sometimes there is no sound. This is a typical horizontal asymmetry.

2. Harmonic uniform

It is easier to compare the overtones horizontally. Generally, the overtones of the thirteen emblems, ten emblems, seven emblems, four emblems and one emblem of the same string are used for comparison. There is an octave relationship between the sounds of these emblems, which is easier to distinguish. The overtones are preferably clear and stable. Some overtones at the first emblem of the qin have a high pitch and a sharp and hoarse sound, which is very incongruous compared with the overtones of other emblems and can be judged as uneven.

Comprehensive comparison of different sounds:

1. Spread evenly

Among the guqin music, the combination of scattered pressing is the most commonly used. Compare the symmetry between the scattered sound and the pressed sound, and listen to the method of homophonic or octave matching. For example, the five strings are in positive tune, note the timbre of this note, and then imagine what kind of timbre the corresponding sound will look like, and then play the big finger Jiuhuichuo to pick the seventh string, and listen to see if there is any obvious sound. difference. Generally speaking, it is necessary to select several pairs of tones of the same degree or octave for comparison in the low-pitched, mid-range, and high-pitched areas to draw conclusions.

2. Spread evenly

Dispersion and overtone, generally after playing the dispersion of a string, play the overtone of the seven emblems of the string with the same fingering and fingering force, and compare whether the volume is close and whether the timbre is coordinated. If the overtone is too much compared to the dispersion Dull or sharp, it is uneven.

3. Press evenly

In some tunes, there will also be overtones and musical passages intertwined according to the tone, such as "The Nagato Resentment", "Remembering the Old Man", "Pingsha Falling Wild Goose" and so on. Overtones and percussions are mainly in terms of volume and sound quality. If the percussion is transparent, the overtones are dull, or the overtones are full and the percussion is dry, this is all uneven.

To sum up, let's take a look at your own piano again. Does the sound meet the "even" standard?