Chinese Music Theory

Theory-wise, it is not extremely difficult to use Western terminology to explain Chinese music. Chinese music uses a pentatonic scale that is derived from the popular instrument Guqin. Some of the notes in western notation do not exist in Chinese music. However, due to the rapid growth of the genre, western music clearly has demonstrated an influence on Chinese music.

Today, Chinese music is notated through the use of Jianpu (which directly translates into “Simple notation”). It is also known as the number system. Below is a part of the Jianpu of the famous piece “Wild Dance of the Golden Snake.”

The numbers, instead of corresponding to the notes, correspond with the scale degrees or the solfege.

For example,

1     2     3     4     5

Corresponds to

do   re   mi    fa    so

Dots above the numbers raises it by an octave, and dots below the numbers lower the notes by an octave.  Lines underneath the numbers notate the rhythm in which the notes should be played, along with other notations such as slurs. This system of notation is similar to the usage of neumes in early western music.

Due to the fact that this type of music is notated following the scale degrees, the key is written beforehand. The meter is also very similar to that of western music, usually shown as a fraction. Due to the similarities between the two notation systems, it is very easy to notate western music with Jianpu.