Scale of harmonics

The instrument is played with flageolet tones (harmonics) as well as pressing the strings on the wood.

The scale of harmonics was, together with the book of Helmholtz an inspiration for Harry Partch to switch to just intonation and alternate tuning systems to create more consonant music than possible with the equal temperament.

For instance: the frequency ratio 5:4 is equal to 4⁄5 of the string length and 4⁄5 is the complement of 1⁄5, the position of the fifth harmonic (and the fourth overtone).

The Norwegian composer Eivind Groven also wrote a thesis on the scale of harmonics, claiming this to be the oldest usable scale, frequent in Norwegian folk music, and seemingly in other folk musical traditions as well.

Although this functions quite differently to a Guqin, oddly enough the scale occurs on this instrument while it is not played in a just intonation tuning but a regular equal temperament.