Making a fake Guqin

[Mike Babcock]

I'm wanting to make a Guqin, a zither type instrument shown above. The instrument has no frets, but has 13 markings that are harmonic nodes.  Does anyone have any ideas how to determine these harmonic nodes. The video above shows a Guqin, which starts around 4 1/2 minutes into to video.

[Skeesix]

Some info on harmonics and the guqin:

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/u11l4d.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_of_harmonics

 

You should be able to take any string (say on a guitar) and practice hearing the harmonics. What you do is touch your finger lightly on string, then pluck the string and hear the harmonic. The one at the octave is the easiest to hear.

 

What I have done to copy instruments is to use a straight on photo, like the one above (the bigger the better). Then blow it up to full scale in drafting software. Then trace over it. You will need to know the scale length to get the measurement exact. Then you can print out the drawing full scale and build your instrument from that.

 

So by combining all of the above, I think that will get you there. You can use the harmonic information or sounds to verify the drawing and vice versa.

[Mike Babcock]

Hi Skeesix,

 

Thanks for that helpful info, Mike

[Tres Seaver]

Wikipedia has a fair amount of help here:

 

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guqin_construction