Playing the guzheng, intonation is a crucial element. Beginners need to undergo rigorous auditory training, mastering the ability to sing and listen to the five-note and seven-note scales in various tunings accurately. At the same time, they must also strive to learn the guzheng tuning method, gradually achieving the ability to tune the instrument independently and accurately. Here, let's take the tuning of the five-note scale on a S-type 21-string guzheng as an example:

1. Locate eight colored strings in sequence, use a standard pitch tube, and tune the a1 note in the minor group as the reference pitch. Adjust the pitch with a tuning wrench and the tuning pin, which corresponds to the 5th note in the D major key of the simple score. Alternatively, you can raise or lower the pitch by moving the zither pins towards the front bridge or in the opposite direction. However, when shifting positions, be cautious not to allow the zither pins to directly rub against the soundboard, as this may cause the pin feet to become unstable, negatively affecting the pitch accuracy.

2. Determine the octave note—A note, which is the same name as a1, on the first eight colored strings in sequence—the fifth note in the D major scale of the simple staff.

3. Sing an ascending fourth from the note '1' of the five tones, and then determine the 'd1' note on the eleventh string according to the string sequence. This note corresponds to the '1' note in the D major scale of the simple staff.

4. By following the string sequence, the fifth degree tone 2 on the ten strings is determined, which corresponds to the tone 2 in the D key of the simple score.

5. According to the string order, determine the ascending second degree tone 6 on the twelve strings, which corresponds to the 6th note in the D major key of the simple notation.

6. By following the string order, the ascending fifth note 3 on the nine strings is determined, which corresponds to the note 3 in the D key of the simple staff.

Repetition is key: accurately sing and listen to the five-tone scale "5 6 1 2 3 5" or "5 3 2 1 6 5," tuning the pitch relationships between each tone.

8. Tune the strings of the high, low, and sub-low groups of the D pentatonic scale using the octave loop tuning method.

When tuning, the distinction of intervals relies on the sharpness of the ear. When tuning strings, one must wait for the aftertune of a note to finish before plucking two notes. For the octave note 5-5, when establishing 5 as the a1 note, after playing the 5th note, wait for the aftertune to disappear before playing the higher octave 5th note. If the aftertunes of the two notes are relatively consistent, then the tuning is accurate.