The commonly used tuning method is to fix the four strings from winding to sub-strings as A, d, e, a (6 2 3 6) four notes. That is the key of C. The six-phase twenty-five-pin pipa ranges from A to e"'.

1.the basic method of tuning

The tuning of the pipa varies a lot in traditional music, and the interval relationship of the four open strings is not fixed. However, the more commonly used tuning method is to fix the four strings from winding to sub-strings to four notes of A, d, e, and a. That is the key of C. Beginners should learn the key of D first, and the tuning is based on the key of D.
The method of tuning the tuning: When learning the pipa for the first time, if the concept of intonation has not been cultivated and established, the tuning will not be tuned. At this time, it is better to develop the habit of tuning the chord. If the chords are not fixed, do not practice.
When setting the strings of A, d, e, and a, you can set the empty substring first according to the pitch of the a note of the flute, xiao, harmonica, piano, tuning fork, etc.; then press the substring on the first fret to pop out e' E pitch octave), as the basis for setting the e sound of the air string; then press the middle string on the fourth fret to play d' (an octave higher than the d pitch), as the basis for calibrating the d sound of the empty old string; Finally, on the first fret, press the old string to play the a sound (or play the a sound of the empty substring), as the basis for calibrating the A sound of the empty wound string. After the four strings are initially set, they should be checked again. Commonly used verification methods are as follows:
Double-tone check method: "double play" according to the first fret substring and air string; double play according to the fourth fret middle string and empty old string; double play according to the first fret old string and empty winding string; or "Distinguish" empty substrings and empty winding strings. If you find that there is dissonance between the two strings when playing double or split, you need to carefully identify the pitch of each string, which string is lower or higher, and re-set the inaccurate string. for calibration.
Harmonic check method: If you have learned to play harmonics, you can use this method
Tone and overtone check method
Dispersion and Overtone Checking
Among them, beginners generally use the two-tone check method, but when they have learned a certain level, that is, when they master the overtone performance, they can use the overtone check method, which is a relatively reliable and good method. That is, when arranging the grades, it is also advisable to use overtones to check, so that the grades can be glued to the exact position.

2.the type of "transposition" tuning

According to the needs of playing the music, the relationship of the tuning can also be changed. In traditional pipa music, in order to better exert the unique effect of a certain musical style and make use of open strings as much as possible to obtain the desired chord effect, the method of changing the tuning is often used. For example, when changing the tuning on the small work tune (ie 1=D), it was once called "small work transposition one" or "minor transposition two" and so on. Of course, the so-called "transposition" here refers to changing the interval relationship between the four open strings, not the mode of the music. Now appendix several "transposition" tuning methods that have been used in traditional music are as follows:
(A) A, B, e, a: used for songs such as "Hai Qing" and "Overlord Unloading Armor".
(B) A, B, e, e: used in the "General's Order" of the Pulot School.
(C) E, B, e, e: used by the Pinghu School's "Han General Order" and "Manchu General Order".
(D) A, e, a, a: used in the "General's Order" of the Wuxi School.
(E) G, d, e, a: used in the "Little Pu'an Mantra".
(F) B, d, e, and a: used in "Smell the Bell through the Fog".
(G) #F, B, e, a: used in "Dancing Horse".
(H) A, #c, e, a: used for playing and singing "Fisher's Music", "Twelve Months", etc.
(I) #F, d, e, a: It is used by "Qingjiang Yin" at the end of "Pu'an Mantra".

3. Active Yamaguchi

On the pipa, whose phonemes are arranged according to the equal temperament and semitones, all the ascending and descending tones can be played basically. But in some tunes, you can only use the percussion to play, and you can't use the four open strings. Therefore, it is possible to try out the active Yamaguchi. The method is to press the four strings on the first phase, the second phase, or the third phase by pressing the movable mountain pass. In this way, in each key, the tonic or dominant tone can be changed into an open string tone according to the mode, so that various traditional playing methods can be used as much as possible to give full play to the role of the open string sound. Open string dispersion has been changed.