INTRODUCTION

TO VIETNAMESE MUSIC

                     by Nguyễn Vĩnh Bảo                                                       

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Except for peculiar cases, instruments are tuned as desired. The idea of absolute pitch is not taken into considerations, a fact that gives a certain impression of false notes to Westerner’s ears which are accustomed to the absolute pitch of the tempered scale notes.

• SCALES USED FOR PLAYING SAD MELODIES EG.

1. The Vong co (longing for the past), Ly con sao (Lament of the Blackbird) …..

   HÒ   XU(y)   XANG   XÊ   CÔNG
   L      U#        S           X         C
   Do    mi       fa          sol        si
   C      E          F           G         B
   

2. Nam xuân (serenity), Ðao ngu cung (solemnity)

   HÒ   XU   XANG   XÊ   CÔNG (oan)
   L      U       S          X      C#
   Do    ré     fa        sol      si
   C      D       F          G      B

3. Nam ai and Oan Mode (profound sadness)

   HO    XU (y)    XANG    XE    CONG (oan)
   L       U#           S            X      C#
   Do    mi            fa          sol    si
   C       E              F            G       B

As said, remember that the pitch of the Vietnamese Mi (E) and Si (B) corresponds approximately to that of the Western Mi (E) and Si (B).
As a matter of taste, if the Vietnamese HÒ (L) of the scale takes the pitch of Ré (D), the dan Tranh (Zither) must be tuned as follows:

1. BA('C MODE- happy melodies
   

   HÒ XU XANG XÊ CÔNG
   L     U     S       X     C
   Ré  mi    sol   la    si
   D     E      G      A     B
   

2. VONG CÔ, LÝ CON SÁO

   HÒ   XU (y)    XANG   XÊ   CÔNG
   L       U#          S           X     C
   Ré    Fa#       sol          la    si
   D       F#           G           A     B

3. NAM XUÂN, ÐAO NGU CUNG

   HÒ    XU    XANG    XÊ    CÔNG (oan)
   L        U      S            X       C#
   Ré     mi     sol        la       do
   D        E       G           A       C

4. NAM AI and OÁN mode
   

   HÒ       XU (y)       XANG       XÊ       CÔNG (oan)
   L             U#             S             X         C#
   Ré       Fa#             sol            la       do
   D            F#             G              A         C

5. NORTHERN SA MAC SCALE

   HÒ       XU(y) (-)       XANG       XÊ       CÔNG (oan) (-)
   L          U# (-)             S              X             C# (-)
   Ré       fa                   sol           la             do
   D          F                     G             A             C